JACKSON – A 33-year-old male resident of Jackson has been charged with being in possession of a significant amount of marijuana with intent to distribute the drug.
According to the Jackson Police Department, on Dec. 2, Police Officer Mark Rodina received information about a man who was going to be traveling into Jackson with a substantial quantity of marijuana.
Police said Rodina contacted Sgt. Fred Meabe and Police Officer Wes Thomason to relay the information to them. Thomason and Police Officer David Watson were assigned to an area where the man was expected to be.
Just before 12:23 p.m., Thomason observed the man’s 2009 Infiniti on Sixty Acre Boulevard. After the officer observed the driver allegedly commit traffic violations, he stopped the driver.
Police said that during the motor vehicle stop, Thomason detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. A K-9 dog from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene and indicated the presence of marijuana.
The Infiniti was seized and transported to police headquarters, pending the issuance of a search warrant. Police said the driver was released at the scene of the motor vehicle stop after being issued traffic summonses.
On Dec. 3, Rodina was granted a search warrant for the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, more than 3 pounds of marijuana in multiple packages and drug paraphernalia was recovered, according to police.
Police said the individual was charged with possession of marijuana (over 50 grams), possession of marijuana with intent to distribute (third degree), possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled dangerous substance while operating a motor vehicle.
The individual was contacted and he responded to police headquarters on Dec. 5 to be processed. Police said the man was released pending a court appearance.