Atlantic City investigation leads to guns, drugs and two arrests

An Atlantic City man with a pending drug case is now jailed on drug and weapons offenses.

Paul Dawley, 43, of Atlantic City, was arrested with a 9mm handgun loaded with five rounds, a retractable knife, suspected crystal methamphetamine and $257 in cash, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office announced.

Dawley already has a pending case involving methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin from 2021, according to court records.

A woman, Jacquelyn Ryan, was also arrested with a small bag containing suspected crystal meth, according to the charges.

Ryan, 33, of Waretown, Ocean County, was charged with third-degree possession and released.

She previously served time for hindering apprehension and was one of four people charged with possession of a defaced firearm in an Atlantic City drug raid where 19 people were arrested.

A search of Dawley's home at the Beach Gate Condominium Complex in the 600 block of Pacific Avenue led to a .40-caliber handgun loaded with 12 rounds, about 30 purple containers of suspected crystal meth, multiple pills suspected to be Ecstasy and pressed fentanyl, one white envelope containing suspected psilocybin mushrooms, a loaded hypodermic needle, a set of brass knuckles with retractable knife, multiple Naloxone sublingual films and packaging materials, according to the report.

The investigation was a joint effort by the Prosecutor's Office Gangs, Guns and Narcotics Unit along with the High-Intensity Drug-Trafficking Areas Task Force.

Dawley was charged with multiple weapons and drug offenses and money laundering. He is in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.