Routine Motor Vehicle Stop Ends in Heroin Possession, Distribution Charges

A routine motor vehicle stop prompted by a passenger's failure to wear a seat belt ended in a multitude of drug charges for the car's occupants Tuesday after Fair Lawn police found heroin hidden on a juvenile in the vehicle, Sgt. Brian Metzler said.

Upon stopping the car on Route 208 north at DeBoer Drive, Officer Paul Donohue discovered its passengers were under the influence of drugs and its driver was in possession of a hypodermic needle, Metzler said.

One of the two passengers, a 17-year-old girl, was holding 39 bags of heroin on her person, according to police reports.

The driver, identified by police as Dean Hopper, 19, of Haskell, faces charges of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute, employing a juvenile in a drug distribution scheme and possession of a hypodermic needle, as well as motor vehicle summonses for failure to keep right, drug possession in a motor vehicle and driving while suspended, Metzler said.

Passenger Joseph Semiz, 24, also of Haskell, was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute, employing a juvenile in a drug distribution scheme and being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance.

Both men were taken to Bergen County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Metzler said the 17-year-old who was allegedly found holding the heroin was released to a family member. She will be charged in family court in Hackensack and may face drug rehabilitation or community service, if convicted, he said.

Metzler said it's common for users to bring a juvenile along on drug purchases and stick them with the drugs if stopped.

"She's there under the assumption that if she's caught it falls on her because the charges aren't as serious," Metzler said in reference to Tuesday's incident. In this case, the juvenile, whom police said was under the influence, appeared to be complicit in the crime, he said

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