Arresting Update: M'town Marijuana Busts

Middletown police arrested the following people for marijuana possession charges stemming from various situations:

• On Oct. 11 at 10:40 p.m., Patrolman Robert McNair was on patrol in the area of the Bayshore Waterfront Park when he observed a suspicious vehicle parked in the parking lot.

Officer McNair approached the vehicle when he detected a strong odor of burnt marijuana coming from inside the car.

Officer McNair conducted an investigation that resulted in the recovery of a cigar filled with marijuana, a grinder, which is a device used to prepare marijuana for smoking, and a pipe used to smoke marijuana. The officer arrested: Loren Ranero, 18, of Nevada Drive, Hazlet; Shannon Kempf, 18, of Union Avenue, Hazlet; and Christina Ciulla, 18, of Peter Place, Hazlet. All were charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly persons offenses.

All three were transported to police headquarters where they were processed and released pending a court date.

• On Oct. 11 at 5:45 p.m., Patrolman Robert McNair was on patrol in the area of Bray Avenue when he observed a suspicious subject, identified as Merideu Cadet, 25, of Middletown Avenue, Atlantic Highlands, riding a bike.

Officer McNair approached Cadet when he observed him attempt to remove something from his pocket.

Officer McNair conducted an investigation that resulted in the recovery of marijuana from Cadet’s pocket and the arrest of Cadet for possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, a disorderly persons offense.

He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released pending a court date.

• On Oct. 11, at 4:40 p.m., Patrolman Robert McNair was on patrol on Port Monmouth Road in the area of the Bayshore Waterfront Park. He was flagged down by someone who reported that he had observed two teenagers smoking what he believed to be marijuana in the park.

Officer McNair approached the two teens and conducted an investigation that resulted in the recovery of a bag of marijuana and a pipe used to smoke marijuana. The officer then arrested a 16-year-old male juvenile from Port Monmouth, who was charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, and a 16-year-old male juvenile from West Keansburg, who was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both were transported to police headquarters, where they were processed and released pending a court date.

• On Oct. 11 at 7:45 p.m., Lieutenant Ernest Volkland responded to an alarm activation at a residence on Tindall Road. While checking the residence Officer Volkland located a subject, identified as Anthony McDonnell, 21, from Tindall Road, Middletown, who had set the alarm off by accident.

While speaking with McDonnell, Lieutenant Volkland detected a strong odor of raw Marijuana coming from his person.

Lt. Volkland continued his investigation, which resulted in the recovery of a baggie of marijuana from McDonnell’s sweatshirt and the arrest of McDonnell for possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, a disorderly persons offense.

He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released pending a court date.