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Editor’s note: 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”
CRESSKILL, NEW JERSEY —— On Feb. 4 at 10:10 a.m., Patrolmen Banta and Vela were dispatched to Hudson Drug to speak with the owner/pharmacist regarding a possible fraudulent prescription.
Vela spoke to the owner, who stated he received a phone call from a doctor to fill 300 milliliters of promethazine/codeine. The owner then received a phone call from another party asking if the prescription was ready, and told the man it was. They waited for about an hour to see if the individual would show up, then advised the store to call police if he did.
At 12:03 p.m., patrol was dispatched to the store and Lt. Bert Looby arrived first, observing several people waiting at the counter. The pharmacist told Looby that the man wearing a blue jacket had approached him, asking where to pick up his prescription. The pharmacist told him to wait on line.
As Looby was speaking to the pharmacist, one of the store clerks stated the man with the blue jacket had just left the store without picking up his prescription.
Looby followed the suspect out of the store as he walked towards Kings parking lot. Looby called out to him and asked him why he left without his prescription. The suspect insisted he only went in to buy cough drops; but Looby asked where the cough drops were and the man said he did not but them. Looby asked the suspect for his name and he produced an expired New York identification card. The suspect told Looby that he had come to New Jersey on Feb. 3 with his cousin and a cab driver. He stated they were drinking in bars in Hackensack and Jersey City and trying to pick up girls. He could not remember the names of any of the bars, or the name of the driver he was with.
Vela and Banta arrived in the parking lot and observed a vehicle with two men inside “attempting to conceal themselves.” Vela spoke to the driver, asking for his license. Banta approached on the passenger’s side and requested the passenger’s license. The passenger stated he did not have ID on him and provided his information.
During the course of the investigation, Banta and Vela detected a strong odor of marijuana from inside the car. Vela asked the driver to step out of his car and to stand in front of the vehicle. Banta talked with the passenger.
The driver was advised that an odor of marijuana was detected coming from the car, and he was read his Miranda Rights and told his car would be searched. Vela asked the driver what he was doing there, and he said he was waiting for a friend. The driver kept looking over at Lt. Looby and the suspect. The driver was told to tell the truth of why he was there and who he was waiting for. He said that he was offered money to drive his friend, and someone else, who he does not know, to this location. Vela pointed to the suspect and asked if he came in the vehicle, and the driver replied, “Yes, that’s who I am waiting for.” The driver was then searched for any weapons and/or contraband with negative results.
The passenger was then told to step out of the vehicle and to stand at the rear of his parked vehicle. He was told that a strong odor of marijuana was detected emanating from the vehicle and that his car would be searched. His Miranda Rights were read.
The passenger was asked to be honest of why he was parked there to which he replied that they were waiting for his cousin. Like the driver, he kept eying the suspect. The passenger was searched for weapons and/or contraband with negative results and was told to stand in front of the vehicle with the driver and Banta.
Vela than spoke with Looby and the suspect. Eventually, the suspect admitted that he was attempting to pick up prescription codeine fraudulent but was unable to retrieve it and left he store when he noticed the officer inside. The suspect said he didn’t know who called the prescription in, but was just told to go pick it up.
Looby, Banta and Vela spoke and determined that all parties were giving conflicting stories. Looby stated that the driver and the passenger both admitted they were there to pick up the prescription fraudulently. It was determined that the suspect was going to be placed under arrest.
The driver and the passenger were both released on scene without incident. The suspect was charged with obtaining drugs by fraud, then processed and released.