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Officer Michael Colon stopped a Jeep Cherokee driven by Wilson Ortiz of the Chelsea section of Manhattan for several violations near police headquarters on River Road shortly before 2 a.m. Monday, Feb. 20.
While talking with him, Colon became suspicious and requested a Bergen County Sheriff’s K-9 unit, Detective Lt. Steven Tibus said.
Edgewater Officers Ricardo Hernandez, Julian Delgado and Dan Massuda also responded as backup, he said.
The dog indicated drugs during an exterior sniff, leading to a search that turned up the 9mm handgun, magazines, an ounce or so combined of cocaine and heroin, a small amount of illegal prescription tablets and $4,000 in suspected drug cash in a hidden “trap,” the lieutenant said.
The license plate also didn’t match the Jeep, he said.
Ortiz was charged with drug and weapons offenses – including being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm – as well as money laundering and receiving stolen property (the plate).
He remained held Thursday in the Bergen County Jail pending court action.
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