Weekend Arrests Show 'Ease' Of Obtaining Drugs, Police Say

Three motor vehicle stops over the weekend resulted in six people being charged with drug and alcohol-related crimes, said Monday. These arrests, combined with a recent , highlight the “ease of obtaining [drugs] in our community," Police Chief James Batelli said.

Two 19-year-olds, one from Ramsey and one from Topsfield, Massachusetts, were pulled over at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday after Mahwah Officer Sean Hayes observed their car swerving on Wyckoff Ave., police said. The Ramsey driver was charged with possession of Adderall, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle, and both were charged with possession of alcohol under the legal age, Batelli said. An investigation is ongoing into this incident, police said.

Colby Shaw, 27, of Pittsfield, Vermont was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle after being pulled over for an “equipment violation,” while driving on Route 17 Saturday night, Batelli said. Officer Hayes allegedly “observed what appeared to be items commonly associated with heroin usage,” in Shaw’s car, Batelli said. Marijuana, glass pipes and an “unidentified liquid in a clear unlabeled container,” were also allegedly found in the vehicle, Batelli said. Shaw was released on his own recognizance and has a future court date in Mahwah.

These two incidents came after a drug-related arrest of three New York men who were originally pulled over for careless driving on Route 17 South Friday night, police said. Sean Talarino, 21, of Schaghticoke, Jacob Baker, 18, and Jesse D. Baker, 21, both of Clifton Park were charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia after Mahwah Officer Eric Larsen allegedly found bagged marijuana and blunts in their car, Batelli said.

According to the Police Chief, the recent string of similar arrests is cause for concern. “The continued series of arrests for drugs ranging from heroin, ecstasy, marijuana, cocaine, and prescription medication indicate the increasing need for diligence by law enforcement to address the prevalence and ease of obtaining these types of narcotics in our community,” he said.

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