Police arrested a Butler NJ man who allegedly tried to flee after he was caught smoking marijuana behind a strip mall in Bloomingdale, NJ.
A Bloomingdale detective was in the area of Riverside Square on Main Street when he allegedly observed two men smoking pot in a secluded spot behind the strip mall. When the officer walked toward the suspects, one of the men surrendered on the spot; the other man began running away.
The detective called for assistance. Not long after that, backup arrived in the form of officers from Bloomingdale, Butler, and Riverdale.
The subsequent search spanned a wide area and eventually ended up on the banks of the Pequannock River. It is believed that the suspect was trying to cross the river and reach the Riverdale side.
Before the suspect could get to his destination, a Riverdale police officer captured him. According to police, the officer suffered a minor knee injury as a result of the pursuit.
The suspect was arrested and taken into custody. He has been charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and resisting arrest. He also faces enhanced charges for allegedly selling marijuana near a school zone.
After being arrested and charged, the suspect was taken to the Passaic County Jail. The suspect is being held at the jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.
The other suspect in the case has been charged with simple possession of marijuana. Not long after the suspect was processed, he was released from custody with a pending court date.
For additional information about this case, read the NJ.com article entitled “Man Crosses Pequannock River to Evade Police After He’s Spotted Smoking Pot, Police Say.”
