WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J.—An officer on seat belt stationary enforcement at Chestnut Ridge Road and Glen Road on the afternoon of June 1 observed a Gray Ford F150 headed southbound with the driver manipulating his cell phone in his left hand, and not wearing a seatbelt.
The driver pursued, stopping the defendant after they cleared the traffic light. The defendant rolled down his window no more than four inches. His hands are reported as shaking and fumbling.
The officer says he smelled raw marijuana from within.
The defendant handed over a marijuana cigarette from the center console. Questioned, he said he’d never been arrested. This was shown to be false.
When the car was subsequently searched the driver, 41, from Englewood, turned out to have a bag of marijuana in a toiletries kit.
He was arrested, taken to headquarters, and summonsed for possession of marijuana under 50 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a motor vehicle while in possession of narcotics, violation of wireless telephone use, and failure to wear a seatbelt.
His court date was June 26. He was given a ride back to his car.