On May 4, 2011 at about 12:09 p.m. while on patrol, Patrolman Kevin Florczak observed a gold Mercury approach the center median u-turn to turn left into the westbound lane. The driver then quickly aborted his turn and entered back into eastbound traffic in a careless manner, failing to signal his turn in violation of 39:4-126, and causing Patrolman Florczak to take evasive action to avoid a collision. A motor stop on the 100 block of West Westfield Avenue resulted in the discovery of one (1) partially smoked hand-rolled suspected marijuana cigar, one (1) large clear plastic bag which contained four (4) medium-size clear plastic bags which each contained suspected marijuana, and (1) digital scale which contained white and green residue.
The driver, Jonathan Nieves, age 30 of Woodbridge, NJ was placed under arrest and charged with 2C:35-7 (possession with intent to distribute CDS within 500 ft of a public building/park), 2C:35-5 (possession with intent to distribute CDS); 2C:35-10(a)(3) (possession of over 50 grams of marijuana); and 2C:36-2 (possession of drug paraphernalia). Mr. Nieves was committed to Union County in lieu of $25,000.00 bail.