Police: Pair face charges after sale of fake cocaine in southern NJ spurs false robbery report

Police: Southern NJ ‘robbery’ was failed drug deal

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Police in southern New Jersey say a man called to report that he had been robbed after getting angry with someone who sold him fake cocaine.

Middle Township police say 24-year-old Lawrence Walsh called them Thursday and said he had been robbed at a convenience store. Officers soon responded, but the alleged assailant had fled in a cab.

But police learned Walsh bought what he thought was cocaine from Thomas M. Sexton, a 23-year-old Lower Township resident. When he realized it was crushed Sheetrock, he made the robbery report.

Sexton was charged with distribution of imitation drugs, while Walsh was charged with wandering in a public place to purchase drugs.

Neither man returned phone messages on Saturday, and it was not known they had retained lawyers.