Driver on Pills, Pot Blocked Intersection, Cops Say
Hopatcong Police say man took 48 cold pills and Xanax before driving.
A 19-year-old Boonton man was arrested and charged with possession of drugs after his vehicle was found blocking the intersection at Brooklyn Road and Lakeside Boulevard on Feb. 3, Hopatcong Police Lt. Thomas Kmetz said.
According to Kmetz, Sgt. Meghan Antonello was behind a vehicle on Brooklyn Road and observed it rolling through the traffic light into the intersection. Upon speaking with the driver, Christopher Sanford, Antonello smelled the strong odor of burnt marijuana from within the vehicle, Kmetz said.
According to police, Sanford was given field sobriety tests which he failed and further investigation found that he had taken 48 cold and cough pills and Xanax during the day. Sanford was arrested, taken to headquarters, given the Alcotest and a DRE exam, charged and released to friend, police said.
Police said the passenger in the vehicle, 18-year-old Victoria Schinzel of Fredon was the owner of the vehicle and had a pipe under her clothes on the passenger floor. According to police, both the driver and passenger smoked marijuana in the vehicle before they were pulled over. Schinzel was also arrested, taken to headquarters, charged and later released, police said.
S.Holey
10:30 am on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Wow...How was he able to get out of his driveway after taking 48 cough and cold medicine pills and Xanax during that one day?? I think that would quantify as an OD, so why wasn't he taken to the hospital? Must be a typo!
Jarhead
3:44 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
You wouldnt be so worried about Mr. Sanford's welfare, if he would of crashed into you or one of your family members in his impaired state.
Police Corruption In "Hopatcong"
9:49 am on Sunday, March 3, 2013
What if he was hurt? would'nt you want to Get him an Ambulance Sgt.Antonello?
you could always get a blood test @the hospital The HPD needs to treat people with
More respect! I'm sure Sgt.Antonello would want her Family treated better!!!
Rich Smith
3:57 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
At best, our insurance rates go up because of people like this and at worse, innocent people get killed. If he is stupid enough to take all those pills on top of marijuana that’s fine but others should not be taking the chance of a collision with him. Take away his license. If he drives again, lock him up. But, of course, he’ll get a slap on the wrist and maybe an offer to go straight. Yea, right.
Dp
8:43 pm on Saturday, February 9, 2013
Just another day in hopatcong