Paramus PD: Alert Officer Nabs Mall Trio With Cocaine, Heroin

PARAMUS, N.J. -- An alert Paramus police officer nabbed a trio of would-be thieves from Newark with hundreds of vials of cocaine and dozens of envelopes of heroin, authorities said.

Anthony R. Closs Jr., Christopher Stewart, Sadot J. McBride
Photo Credit: *MUGSHOTS: Courtesy PARAMUS PD*

Jerry DeMarco

10/18/2017 10:25 a.m.

Officer Anthony Mordaga spotted the trio leaving a mall after trying and failing to use a woman's credit card in different stories, Deputy Chief Robert Guidetti said Wednesday.

While interviewing them, Mordaga "detected the odor of burnt marijuana on the suspects clothing and inside their 2013 Chevrolet Camaro," Guidetti said.

A search of the vehicle turned up four zip-locking bags containing 359 vials containing cocaine and 47 heroin bags stamped "UPTOWN," he said.

Anthony R. Closs Jr., 23, told Mordaga he found the credit card on a Newark street and was trying to buy clothing with it, the deputy chief said. After it was declined several times, he said, he threw it away somewhere inside the mall.

Mordaga arrested Closs, along with Christopher Stewart, and Sadot J. McBride, both 22, on drug charges.

All were taken to the Bergen County Jail pending a detention hearing.

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