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Heroin, Cash, Stolen Street Sign Found In Routine Rochelle Park Police Stop

ROCHELLE PARK, N.J. -- - A Rochelle Park police officer who stopped a car for having a cracked windshield and bald tires turned up heroin, prescription drugs, $1,600 in suspected drug proceeds -- and a stolen City of Paterson street sign, authorities said.

Amaury A. Mejia

Amaury A. Mejia

Photo Credit: MUGSHOT: Courtesy ROCHELLE PARK PD

Officer Brian Gallina could see the sign – stolen from East 23rd Street and 18th Avenue – through the rear window during Friday’s West Passaic Street stop, Lt. Dean Pinto told Daily Voice.

On the front passenger seat were various prescription medications outside their original containers, he said.

A search turned up the cash – “in denominations associated with drug sales” – along with a one-pound box of thousands of rubber bands and stamp pad, both used in packaging heroin for sale, the lieutenant said.

Gallina, assisted by Pinto and Officer Brian Cobb, also found two silver-dollar-sized chunks of heroin and nine cellphones.

They arrested Amaury A. Mejia, 30, on charges that included possession of drugs, stolen property and alleged drug proceeds.

Mejia was released on a court summons, under New Jersey’s 2017 bail reform law, pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.  

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