Yesterday at approximately 1:21 p.m., Detective Sgt. Dominick Frino, along with Patrolmen Harold Breuninger, Anthony Rodriguez, and Joshua Medrano approached two (2) males who were in the lobby of the Roselle Park Municipal Court. It was reported that both individuals had a strong odor of raw marijuana coming from their person that had the entire police lobby smelling of the controlled dangerous substance.
One of the individuals who was identified as Andrew Bratcher, age 18 from Roselle Park, was found to be in possession of suspected marijuana and arrested without incident.
The second individual, identified as Derrick Thomas, age 21 from Elizabeth, reportedly failed to comply with officers and fled on foot toward Westfield Avenue in an attempt to evade police.
Officers were able to catch up to Mr. Thomas where he was brought to the ground. While on the ground, he allegedly continued to resist officers as he was being taken into custody. Mr. Thomas and three of the Roselle Park police officers sustained minor injuries as a result of the incident.
Further investigation revealed that Mr. Thomas was in possession of four (4) ounces of suspected marijuana, a digital scale, and packaging material.
Both Mr. Bratcher and Mr. Thomas were arrested, handcuffed, and escorted into police headquarters where they were processed.
Andrew Bratcher was also found to have an outstanding criminal warrant out of Roselle Park Municipal Court for $1,500. He was subsequently charged with possession of c.d.s., served on a warrant, and lodged into the Union County Jail on an additional $3,500 bail.
Derrick Thomas was charged with possession of c.d.s. with intent to distribute, possession of c.d.s. over one ounce, possession of c.d.s. with intent to distribute on public property, resisting arrest, obstruction, possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to turn over c.d.s. to police. Bail was set at $50,000. He was also lodged into the Union County Jail without further incident.
