Motor Vehicle Stop Results in Drug and Gun Bust

Fort Lee Police arrested a man Friday in connection with alleged drug and weapons possession Friday at the Gulf Gas Station on Bergen Boulevard south, authorities said.

According to police, Edward Rosario, 23, of the Bronx, was arrested and charged with two counts possession of handgun, possession of hollow nose bullets, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of a weapon while committing a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) crime, possession of heroin with intent to distribute within a public park and within a school zone, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, and numerous motor vehicle summonses.

At approximately 9:50 p.m. Friday, Fort Lee Police Officer Dennis Pothos stopped Rosario, who was observed parked in a 2004 Toyota Camry at the Gulf Gas Station on Bergen Boulevard south, police said. Minutes earlier, Pothos had observed Rosario make an unsafe lane change and pull into the BP Gas Station on Bergen Boulevard south.  

Police report that at the time of the stop Rosario attempted to appear as if he was sleeping in the parked vehicle. While speaking to Rosario, Pothos observed a clear plastic bag with a white powdery residue inside the vehicle. Believing this to be a CDS, Pothos asked Rosario to exit the vehicle to be interviewed.

Police said that during the interview Pothos made observations leading him to believe that Rosario had just ingested a CDS.

According to police, after Rosario consented to a search of the vehicle Officer Richard Hernandez and K9 Greener responded to assist in the search. K9 Greener indicated that a CDS was inside the vehicle and glassine bags believed to contain heroin were located, along with other drug paraphernalia, police said.

Also found in the vehicle during the search was a fully loaded .38 caliber handgun along with extra hollow point ammunition which is illegal, as well as ammunition for a .22 caliber, authorities said. Rosario was arrested at the scene.

Police report that a search warrant that was obtained and later executed resulted in the seizure of a .22 magnum revolver in addition to more illegal drugs, believed to be heroin and pills.

Rosario was arraigned and bail was set at $150,000 with a 10 percent option. He is being held in the Bergen County Jail.

Chief Keith Bendul said that it was due to Pothos' keen observations that one person has been arrested and two illegal firearms, along with a quantity of drugs, have been removed from the streets.

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