Crime & Safety
40 Heroin Bags Found During Seatbelt Stop, Cops Say
Washington Township Police report passenger had drugs, needles while traveling down Rt. 46.
Written by Jason Koestenblatt
A motor vehicle stop of a Hackettstown man driving without his seatbelt led Washington Township Police to find dozens of heroin bags and two hypodermic needles, Lt. Art Adams said.
Officer Michael Hade stopped a vehicle Sunday at 2:52 p.m. on Mountain Avenue in Hackettstown after observing the driver, Tyler Grillo, 19, on Rt. 46 in Washington Township not wearing his seatbelt, Adams said.During an investigation at the scene, Hade found 40 bags of heroin and two hypodermic needles, Adams said. All of the contraband was claimed by the vehicle’s passenger, Dennis Padilla, 19, of Asbury, Adams said.
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Hade then found Padilla had two active warrants out of Phillipsburg in the amount of $500, another from Dunellen for $500, and another from Mansfield Township for $500. Padilla was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Grillo was charged with having a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle, failure to exhibit documents, failure to wear a seatbelt and operating an uninsured vehicle.
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Padilla was jailed in the Warren County Correctional Facility.
For questions about this post, email jason.koestenblatt@patch.com.
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