At approximately 3:30 p.m on Thursday, February 23, during a burglary investigation, Detective Matthew Disano observed a suspicious male trying to enter the rear door of an East Westfield Avenue apartment building without a key.
The male was able to gain access before being approached by the police. Detective Disano entered the building but could not immediately locate the suspicious person. He soon detected the odor of burnt marijuana coming from one of the apartments.
Detective Disano was able to summon the resident from the apartment he suspected was responsible for the odor of burning marijuana who was identified as Peter R. Colucci, age 25. Also located in the apartment was the suspicious person that Detective Disano was trying to locate. That person was identified and later released without criminal charges.
Mr. Colucci consented to a search of his apartment which later revealed suspected marijuana, suspected hashish, several marijuana smoking pipes and drug packaging material along with several bundles of U.S. currency. Colucci was arrested and processed at Roselle Park Police Department (RPPD) where he was charged with:
- Possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute [2C:35-5(b)(12)]; a crime of the 4th degree
- Possession of CDS/marijuana [2C:35-10(a)(4)]; a disorderly persons offense
- Possession of CDS/hashish [2C:35-10(a)(4)]; a disorderly persons offense
- Possession of drug paraphernalia [2C:36-2]
Mr. Colucci was released without bail pending an appearance in Union County Superior Court.