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Sgt. Rick Pizzuti was pulling out of the Winslow Hotel lot while on routine patrol around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday night when a 2003 GMC van sped in, nearly hitting his car, Detective Sgt. Vincent Auteri said.
Pizzuti stopped the van, driven by Ilir Cira, 35, who initially gave the sergeant a false name when he couldn't produce a driver's license, registration or insurance, Auteri said.
Patting him down, Pizzuti found Cira carrying 40 heroin folds and a hypodermic needle, the sergeant said.
Backup Officer Steven Batista found another needle on him, as well, he said.
A search of the van turned up 42 more folds of heroin, along with five bags of crack, three more needles, six glass pipes and a joint, Auteri said.
After confirming his true identity at headquarters, police charged Cira -- most recently of Rutherford -- with various drug possession counts, as well as possession of hypodermic needles and drug paraphernalia and hindering arrest. He was sent to the Bergen County Jail to await a detention hearing.
The Rutherford Avenue motel has kept township police busy for years.
Earlier this month, they captured an ex-con who barricaded himself in a room at the Winslow after a lengthy chase.
SEE: Police Converge On Ex-Con At Lyndhurst Motel After Lengthy Pursuit
Pizzuti found another guest getting into a stolen U-Haul while carrying crystal meth outside the motel in September.
SEE: Sergeant Nabs Lyndhurst Motel Guest With Stolen U-Haul, Crystal Meth, Police Say
Two years ago, a troubled man jumped off a roof at the Winslow and later became stuck in the Passaic River mud as he tried to flee.
SEE: Lyndhurst Police Pull Troubled Hotel Guest From Passaic River
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