Three Mahwah Teens Arrested After Bogus Drug Deal Goes Bad, Cops Say

Three Mahwah teenagers were arrested Thursday evening after cops say they attempted to sell fake drugs to a friend, then beat him up and stole $60 from him when he refused the sale, police said Friday.

According to a release from Mahwah Police Chief Jim Batelli, four township teens met up outside a diner on Route 17 Thursday evening before 6:30 p.m. for what was supposed to be a cocaine deal.

When the 17-year-old customer sensed that the drugs were fake and walked away from the deal, the three would-be dealers followed, Batelli said.

After walking down Island Road trying to convince the teen that the substance was in fact cocaine, “one of the individuals jumped [the buyer] from behind,” near Commodore Perry Field, Batelli said.

The three then “wrestled the victim to the ground” and stole $60 from him, Batelli said. The victim only received “minor bruising” from the attack, Batelli said.

Responding police officer David Vega arrested township residents Daniel F. Mapes, 18, Adam P. Krilla 19, and a 15-year-old after he spotted them running down West Ramapo Ave., Batelli said.

Mapes and Krilla were charged with second degree robbery, assault, and theft, and each was transported to the Bergen County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bail, Batelli said.

The 15-year-old was charged with juvenile complaints of robbery, assault and theft and was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center pending a hearing, Batelli said.

During an investigation into this incident, cops say they determined the substance the three attempted to sell was not actually cocaine.