BY TOM CLANCEY
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
CLOSTER, N.J. —— Two Oregon residents were arrested with three pounds of marijuana and 57 vials of liquid THC at a DWI Sobriety Check Point conducted by the Closter Police Department on Nov. 22.
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Preston Mckinney, 31, and Annique Monk-Goldsmith, 33, both of Bend, Oregon, are facing charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana in a school zone and possession of marijuana over 50 grams, Closter police said in a statement.
“They both will be charged with third and fourth degree indictable crimes,” said Closter Detective Keith Dombkowski.
The vehicle drove into the Thanksgiving-eve checkpoint, and stopped for motor vehicle violations, said Dombkowski.
“After speaking with the driver and passenger, Closter officers had enough probable cause to suspect illegal narcotics were stored in the vehicle,” said Dombkowski. “A Bergen County Sheriff K9 responded to the scene and conducted a sweep.
“The K9 immediately alerted to the rear end of the vehicle,” Dombkowski said. “The vehicle was then impounded and secured at the Closter Police Department Headquarters. The detective bureau successfully obtained a search warrant and located the above illegal contraband.”
The arresting officer was Patrolman Joseph Sanfilippo, Dombkowski said.
The checkpoint was conducted as part of extra enforcement statewide, part of the the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, underway now through December.
The check point was sanctioned and approved by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, and conducted between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., during which 200 cars were checked, the department said in a statement.
It’s not clear where Mckinney and Monk-Goldsmith procured the marijuana, which is now legal recreationally in their home state of Oregon, but not at quantities Mckinney and Monk-Goldsmith allegedly possessed. It is illegal to transmit marijuana from states where it is legal to states where it is prohibited.
Also at the checkpoint, police made one DWI arrest, a driver who was found to have a blood alcohol content of 0.16 percent.
Police also made one other drug arrest and issued 31 additional summonses while conducting the check point, the department said.
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