A couple of weeks ago, Butler NJ police officers found heroin during two (2) traffic stops.

The first incident occurred shortly after 1:00 AM. An officer saw a white Chevrolet driving erratically on Route 23. When the officer stopped the vehicle, all three (3) occupants tried to conceal items.

According to police, when the officer asked the driver, 21-year-Oak Ridge resident John Moore, to supply his credentials, he noticed fresh drug injection markings on Mr. Moore’s arms. This prompted the officer to investigate further: he soon discovered that all three (3) occupants of the vehicle were in possession of empty heroin packages and hypodermic needles.

Mr. Moore, 20-year-old Wharton resident Edwin Wendlocher III, and 22-year-old Lake Hopatcong resident Eric Ward were arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and unlawful possession of hypodermic syringes.

Additionally, Mr. Moore was charged with several traffic violations, including failing to maintain a lane.

After being arrested, all three (3) men were released from custody pending court appearances in Butler Municipal Court.

Then, in another incident later that same day, a Butler police officer conducted a random license plate inquiry on a black 1999 Chevy Cavalier. During the inquiry, the officer found that the car’s driver, 20-year-old Hewitt resident Danielle Frields, had an outstanding warrant out of Riverdale Municipal Court.

When the officer arrested Ms. Frields, he noticed that her passenger, 20-year-old West Milford resident Michael Muthusammy, tried to conceal something in his pants. The officer investigated further and found that Mr. Muthusammy was in possession of 21 packages of suspected heroin, hypodermic syringes, and glassine envelopes. As a result, Mr. Muthusammy was also arrested.

Ms. Frields was charged with operating a motor vehicle with a revoked license. Meanwhile, Mr. Muthusammy was charged with possession of heroin, unlawful possession of hypodermic syringes, and possession of drug paraphernalia, in addition to other related charges.

In New Jersey, the penalties for possession of heroin are severe. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10, possession of even a small amount of heroin is a third degree crime. If Mr. Muthusammy is convicted of third degree heroin possession, he could be sentenced to as many as five (5) years in New Jersey State Prison.

Mr. Muthusammy was being held at the Morris County Correctional Facility in lieu of $10,000.00 bail.

For more information, see the NJ.com article entitled “Butler Cops Make Two Heroin Busts in One Day.“