Mount Olive NJ police rescued a man from a smoke-filled apartment but later charged him with drug possession after allegedly finding marijuana at the residence.
According to law enforcement, the Mount Olive Police Department received an emergency call about the fire alarm going off at the Eagle Rock Village Apartment Complex in Mount Olive, New Jersey.
A patrol officer was dispatched to the scene, where he encountered neighbors who told him that the fire alarm was coming from the suspect’s apartment. The police officer entered the apartment and found the suspect lying unconscious on a couch inside a room that was filled with smoke. The officer heroically pulled the suspect out of the apartment and away from the smoke.
The Budd Lake Rescue Squad later arrived and evaluated the suspect for injuries.
Meanwhile, Mount Olive police and the Budd Lake Fire Department investigated the fire and determined that the smoke had been caused by burnt food that the suspect had inadvertently left on the stove.
While investigating, authorities reportedly discovered marijuana and other drug-related items inside the suspect’s apartment. Officials said that the items, which included a glass pipe filled with marijuana, were in plain view.
As a result, the suspect was arrested and charged with simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
If the suspect is convicted on the most serious charges of marijuana possession, he faces severe penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10(a)(4), possession of 50 grams or less of marijuana is considered a disorderly persons offense that carries a maximum penalty of six months in NJ State Prison and a $1,000 fine.
After being placed under arrest and processed, the suspect was released from police custody with a pending court date in Mount Olive Municipal Court.
To learn more about this case, access the DailyRecord.com article, “Smoke from Stove Leads to Pot Bust in Mount Olive.”