This section is based on data provided to the Northern Valley Press by neighborhood police departments. Due to pending court appearances and other variations, the following information shall be read in “press time” context.
CLOSTER, N.J.—On Jan. 13 at 4:06 a.m., Patrolman Jorge Vela was parked at a gas station on Closter Dock Road when he observed a car with its third brake light out and no license plate lights operational.
Vela began following the car north on Piermont Road, when he observed the vehicle improperly change lanes. A motor vehicle stop was conducted on Homans Avenue.
While speaking with the male driver and female passenger, Vela detected the odor of marijuana. The driver, whose name was redacted from the report, stated the car was not his and he did not know where the registration or insurance cards were.
The female passenger, 28, from Astoria, N.Y., appeared nervous, fumbling through her belongings and was unaware of where she was or where she was coming from.
Patrolman Christopher Barbieri responded as backup, and the driver was asked to step out of the car. He was searched with negative results, and told police he had been driving to pick up “my girl,” and was now on his way back to New York. He said he didn’t know if there was anything illegal in the vehicle, as it was not his.
The woman was then requested to exit the car, and Barbieri and Vela observed her concealing and destroying a meth pipe, leaving broken glass on the seat and floorboard. Secured on the sidewalk without incident, the woman told officers she destroyed the pipe because it was not hers.
Vela conducted a systematic search of the vehicle starting at the passenger seat; inside the woman’s bag was a white test tube containing a clear plastic bag with five prescription pills, described in detail in the report.
Vela asked the woman what kind of pills they were and she said “Xanax” and “oxycodone.” Also in the bag was a straw, “commonly used to sniff cocaine and white powdery residue,” according to the report.
Vela asked the woman what she used the straw for and she stated she uses it for cocaine and just did “five lines” prior to entering the vehicle. All evidence was secured. Vela asked the woman if she had a prescription for the pills and she stated, “no, my friend gave it to me in Alpine.”
The woman was advised she would be arrested for possession of prescription pills. She was handcuffed and patted down without incident. While she was escorted to the patrol car, she was walking extremely slow and taking small steps, an action described as being consistent with concealing contraband in her genital area, according to the report.
The driver was released on scene with summonses for maintenance of lamps and improper turn.
At headquarters, the woman continued taking small steps, walking slow and keeping her legs close together, consistent with concealing contraband. In patrol car video, the woman could be seen moving around to conceal the contraband.
Matron Maryellen Cerbasi responded to police headquarters. The woman was escorted into a secured room with the matron. A search revealed a prescription pill bottle with Xanax and a glass meth pipe.
The woman was processed and released. She was served with two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.