PARK RIDGE, N.J.—An officer on patrol at 1:35 a.m. on July 10 was idling in the Delta gas station lot facing south on Kinderkamack Road when a gray Honda bearing New York registration passed him heading north.
The vehicle’s passenger side headlight was out; the officer initiated a stop on Kinderkamack Road in the vicinity of 184 Kinderkamack Road.
There were two people in the suspect car. At the driver’s side door, the officer immediately detected the odor of raw marijuana emanating from within.
The officer collected identification and called for additional units. A probably cause search of the car turned up a plastic bag containing a marijuana cigarette concealed behind the access door to the gas tank filler.
The officer seized the collected contraband and secured it in his vehicle. With the permission of the driver, 21, from Pearl River, the officer parked the suspect car at Ridgemont Shopping Center parking lot.
Then the defendant was handcuffed, searched, and placed under arrest for possession of marijuana.
At headquarters he was issued complaints for possession of marijuana under 50 grams, maintenance of lamps, possession of controlled dangerous substances in a motor vehicle, and failure to maintain lane.
All summonses are answerable in the Pascack Joint Municipal Court on July 24. The defendant was given a courtesy ride back to his car.