Teen faces drug charges

JACKSON - A 17-year-old Jackson boy with suspected ties to the Bloods street gang was arrested by police on April 29.

In a press release, Sgt. Steven Las-kiewicz reported that at 12:55 p.m. that day, Police Officer Eric Prosniewski stopped a 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse for a speeding violation on Hyson Road near the Johnson and Crawford-Rodriguez elementary schools.

While speaking with the driver, Prosniewski detected the odor of burnt marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The officer also observed, in plain view inside the vehicle, items which were indicative of marijuana use, according to the press release.

Laskiewicz said Police Officer William Campbell arrived at the scene to assist Prosniewski and the officers had the driver exit the vehicle while a search for narcotics was made. He said a clear plastic bag was observed sticking out of the driver's sneaker, and when it was removed, the officers discovered that it contained numerous smaller bags of a substance believed to be marijuana.

The driver was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters for processing. The juvenile was charged with speeding, failure to have his vehicle inspected, possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) in a motor vehicle, possession of marijuana, and possession of CDS with intent to distribute narcotics within a school zone.

The juvenile was placed in the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center.

- Dave Benjamin