Crime & Safety

On the Beat with Middletown Police

Juvenile marijuana possession charges dominate arrests last week

Last week in Middletown: Six juvenile arrests, one adult, four days apart. All involved marijuana possession charges …

On Feb. 24 at 6:45 p.m., Patrolman Keith Hirschbein was on patrol in the area of McMahon Park when he observed three juveniles sitting in the dugout of the hockey rink passing what appeared to be a cigar back and forth to one another.

Officer Hirschbein entered the dugout where the juveniles were sitting and immediately detected the odor of burnt marijuana emanating from the area. He then observed one of the juveniles put the cigar down on the bench where they were sitting. Officer Hirschbein checked the area and retrieved the cigar, which was found to contain what he identified as marijuana.

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All three juveniles were arrested and charged possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, a disorderly persons offense. They were released to their parents pending a court appearance.

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 On Feb. 20 at 8:40 p.m., Sgt. Paul Bailey was on patrol in the area of Route 35 and Pine Street when he observed two vehicles parked behind the Prudential building, which was not open for business at the time.

 Sgt. Bailey pulled into the parking lot and observed people sitting and standing near the vehicles. As he approached the first vehicle, Sgt. Bailey detected a strong odor of burnt marijuana coming from the area.

He began speaking with two of the subjects, both 15-year-old juveniles. While doing so, he observed a hand rolled cigarette containing a green vegetation, which he recognized as marijuana, and a small clear plastic baggie with what appeared to be marijuana residue in it on the ground near the passenger side door where the juveniles were sitting.

Sgt. Bailey then approached the second vehicle and detected the strong odor of raw marijuana coming from the area. He then located an open pill bottle with green vegetation type residue inside lying on the ground near the car.

Sgt. Bailey then began speaking with the occupants of the second vehicle about what he had observed. At that point, Bailey reported that a 17-year-old female reached under her shirt and removed a small, green plastic baggie allegedly containing marijuana and handed it to him.

Officers said they then received consent to search from the owner of the vehicle, identified as Timothy Soden, 18, of Laurel Avenue, Little Silver. The officers then allegedly found a breath mint package containing marijuana residue inside the car.

Soden was arrested and charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana and being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance. He was released on a summons pending a court appearance.

The two male juveniles were each charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance.

The female juvenile was charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle. All three juveniles were released to their parents pending a court appearance.

 

The information concerning the above arrests was obtained directly from the Middletown Township Police Department's records. While all suspects have been arrested and charged with the named offenses, convictions depend on the outcome of court appearances. All are presumed innocent until proven guilty in that court of law.

 

  


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