A Hopatcong man had pot in the Villa Nova parking lot, police said.

Officer Gerald Mancuso saw an empty vehicle parked at Liquor Factory at about 1:12 a.m. Thursday, police said. There was also a car running in the Villa Nova apartments next to the store, police said.

When Mancuso approached the running vehicle, Christopher Lahey, 29, of Hopatcong, got out and began walking away, police said.

Mancuso stopped him, police said. Lahey smelled of burned marijuana, police said. Next to the vehicle there was a pipe, colored like a cigarette, that was still warm, police said.

The car also smelled of marijuana, police said. Lahey had the marijuana container in his pocket, police said.

Lahey was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle.

Lahey was processed and released, police said.

For questions on this report, email brendan@patch.com.