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Possession of Narcotics (One Arrest)
Sunday, January 27, 2013 • 3:53pm
Release Date: January 27, 2013
Incident Date: January 25, 2013
Incident Time: 1:55 pm
Incident Type: POSSESSION OF NARCOTICS (ONE ARREST)
Two people are facing drug charges after the vehicle they were traveling in was stopped early Friday afternoon due to a seatbelt violation. At 1:55 pm. Cpl. Marc Rubino was on routine patrol traveling north on Rte. 181 behind a blue Dodge sedan. Rubino observed that the front seat passenger was not wearing her seatbelt and he subsequently stopped the car.
Backing Rubino up at the scene were; Lieutenants Joseph Schetting and Mark Rozek. While Rubino was talking to the operator, 20-year-old Netcong resident Matthew A. Lassell, the officers could detect an odor of raw marijuana emanating from the interior of the vehicle. After obtaining a Consent to Search the vehicle, Rubino located and seized as evidence; a plastic ziplock bag containing 50 grams or less of marijuana, a green metal grinder that also contained marijuana and a multi-colored glass smoking pipe.
Lassell was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters for processing. He was later charged with; Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance in a Motor Vehicle. He was released several hours later on his own recognizance. He has a required first appearance in Sparta Municipal Court on Thursday January 31st at 9:00 am to answer the charges. Lassell’s 18-year-old female passenger was cited for not wearing a seatbelt. Sgt. Jeffrey Mase assisted at the scene.
