On June 9th, Rafael A. Suero, age 26 of Hillside, and Mohammad Athar, age 22 of Elizabeth, were arrested by Patrolman Mitchell White for possession with the intent to distribute marijuana. White stopped a 1997 BMW for traffic violations on Linden Road. During the roadside investigation, officer White detected the odor of marijuana. A subsequent search of the car revealed nine (9) vacuum-sealed bags of suspected marijuana, four (4) digital scales, two (2) boxes of new plastic bags commonly used to package narcotics and a partially smoked marijuana-style cigarette.
Both Surero and Athar were charged with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, possession of marijuana, possession with the intent to distribute marijuana in a school / park zone and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bail was set at $75,000 for each. Neither Suero nor Athar could post bail and were remanded to the Union County Jail.