Patch.com recently reported that Stafford police charged a Manahawkin woman with heroin possession after a motor vehicle stop on Newell Avenue near South William Cook Boulevard.
The on-duty patrolman stopped a silver Mazda at 2:15 p.m. on May 1. After a brief initial investigation, he arrested the driver on an outstanding Galloway Township warrant. Further investigation revealed that Hynes was in possession of heroin.
She was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and released after posting bail.
In cases such as these it is very important that the officer follow the correct protocol in issuing arrests and conducting searches of vehicles. This is because once an individual is safely secured in the back of the police vehicle under arrest, the officer’s ability to search the suspect’s car is limited to consent and plain view searches. As such, without written or verbal consent the officer may not have had the authority to search the vehicle. This is merely one issue that may arise in a traffic stop of this nature.
Heroin possession is a serious offense that will be heard in Ocean County Superior Court.
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