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Detective Sgt. Kevin Hebert and Detective Eric Larsen first spotted 24-year-old Guy Smith acting suspiciously in the lobby, Police Chief James N. Batelli said.
His clothing smelled of burnt marijuana, the chief said.
After Smith admitted having and smoking the drug, the detectives ran a records check that turned up the parole violation from the New York State Department of Corrections – even though he’d given them a bogus Social Security number, Batelli said.
As they were arresting Smith, 21-year-old Jante Smith – also of Brooklyn – arrived and asked why they were arresting his boyfriend.
In full view in his purse, the detectives could see drug paraphernalia, Batelli said. They searched it and found cocaine, as well, he said.
Both Jante and Smith were arrested.
The detectives later learned that a third Brooklyn man who was with them had taken off after seeing his associates being taken into custody, Batelli said.
Officers later found 23-year-old Jacob Peynado at a nearby restaurant.
He, too, smelled of marijuana and admitted using it, the chief said.
“He also admitted to the detectives that he and Jante were prostitutes and were using the hotel to see clients,” Batelli said.
He’d just seen one a short time earlier, in fact, the chief added.
Smith was charged with marijuana possession and lying to law enforcement and ordered held in the Bergen County Jail pending extradition to New York on the parole violation.
Jante and Peynado were both charged with engaging in prostitution and drug possession, among other counts.
Both were released on summonses ordering them to appear in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack on May 19.
“The community policing functions performed by Detective Sgt. Hebert and other Mahwah detectives serve a dual purpose in maintaining a visible presence and deterring crime in the community,” Batelli said.
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