Officer Christopher Fasulo stopped the car, driven by Donovan Burton, 18, of Port Jervis for several motor vehicle violations, Mahwah Police Chief James N. Batelli said.
Burton and his passengers gave conflicting stories about their travels, after which Fasulo obtained Burton’s consent to search the vehicle, the chief said.
After finding nine bricks of heroin, he took passengers Brian Klich, 26, also of Port Jervis, and Richard McInturff 27, of Lake Grove, in Suffolk County into custody, along with Burton.
As it turned out, both Klich and McInturff had been released from the Passaic County Jail under New Jersey’s bail reform law after being arrested on drug charges earlier this year, records show.
Both were taken to the Bergen County Jail on drug charges. Burton, meanwhile, was released after being charged with heroin possession. He also was issued summonses.
“An ongoing multi-jurisdictional investigation is underway following the arrests,” Batelli said.
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