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Officer Nicole DiPasquale was on routine patrol around 11:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 11,, when she noticed a tractor-trailer struggling to maintain its lane on Route 17 North, Mahwah Police Capt. Guido Bussinelli said. Officer DiPasquale conducted a motor vehicle stop and spoke with the driver, who was later identified as Dominic Perras, 47, of Canada.
Perras, who claimed he was transporting pineapples from Wilmington, DE to Montreal, had outdated documentation and gave inconsistent details about his travel plans, according to police. As the stop continued, Perras reportedly became increasingly nervous, prompting Officer DiPasquale to ask for and receive his consent to search the vehicle.
With assistance from Officer Nicholas Williams and Officer William Reardon, Officer DiPasquale searched the tractor portion of the truck and located two plastic bags containing pills labeled “ICE,” which were later identified as methamphetamine, Bussinelli said. Perras was then arrested and taken to the Mahwah Police Department for processing.
The driver now faces charges for distribution and possession of methamphetamine, along with several motor vehicle violations. After processing, he was transferred to the Bergen County Jail, where he awaits a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing (CJP) Court.
Additional Mahwah officers assisted at the scene, including Sergeant Rosario Zito, Officer Reardon, Officer Williams, and K-9 Officer Sean Hayes with K-9 Rino.
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