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The buyer was asking motorists on Franklin Turnpike for a ride to Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern when Officers Stacey Conley and Richard Albro stopped him, Mahwah Police Chief James N. Batelli said this afternoon.
He was “sweating profusely and had a small area of fresh blood on his arm, Batelli said, describing his behavior as “erratic”.
Patting him down for their safety, the officers found the needle and heroin, the chief said. They later learned that he’d just shot up, Batelli said.
Soon after, Detective Michael Grassi and Officer Eric Larsen later went to a nearby business on Franklin Turnpike and arrested 29-year-old Ryan Papini.
Grassi confiscated five glassine packets from him with identical markings to those on the bags found on the buyer, Batelli said.
A search of the office area turned up an additional hypodermic needle in a garbage basket, he said.
Both men were charged with drug-related charges and released pending June 4 Municipal Court appearances.
Papini also was immediately fired, Batelli said.
The chief said he was withholding the name of the business because an investigation was continuing.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Although Batelli provided the user’s name, CLIFFVIEW PILOT is withholding his identity for his safety.)
MUGSHOT: Mahwah PD
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