By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
A Newark man who asked the police for help after he locked the keys inside his girlfriend’s car found himself in hot water after the police officers discovered marijuana and alcoholic beverages inside the car, according to the Montgomery Township Police Department.
Jeffrey Watkins, 19, of Newark, was charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of alcohol while under the legal age in the Oct. 25 incident, police said.
The incident began when police received a call shortly before 5:30 p.m. Oct. 25 from a motorist – Watkins – who had locked the keys inside his girlfriend’s car while it was parked at the ShopRite grocery store parking lot on Route 206.
When police arrived, Watkins asked them for help in getting inside the car. After receiving permission from the owner, the police officers used a lock-out kit to open the car door.
As soon as they opened the car door, the police officers smelled an odor of marijuana that was coming from inside the car. They searched the car and found some marijuana, drug paraphernalia and several bottles of alcoholic beverages. Watkins said the items belonged to him, police said.
Watkins was taken to the Montgomery Township Police Department and charged with the offenses, and then released with a pending court date in Montgomery Township Municipal Court.
