50 Heroin Bags Seized in Route 46 Bust

A Hackettstown man and two other local residents were charged with drug possession Thursday after the Washington Township Police K-9 Unit searched their car and found 50 bags of heroin, police said.

Aaron Lombard, 20, of Hackettstown, was charged with possession of heroin, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of drugs in a motor vehicle, according to Washington Township Police Lt. Art Adams. Dennis D. Padilla, 20, of Franklin Township, was charged with possession of heroin, possession of a hypodermic needle, contempt of court (for two warrants), and a 16-year-old from Mansfield, who was not named by police, was charged with possession of heroin.

Ptl. Michael Hade was on patrol on Route 46 just after 2 p.m. when Lombard, the driver of the car, allegedly changed lanes improperly. The car was stopped and Lombard, Padilla and the 16-year-old gave conflicting stories of where they were headed, Adams said.

K-9 "Officer Cliff" and Ptl. Michael Thompson arrived and the K-9 officer indicated possible drugs in the vehicle, Adams said. 

The driver gave consent for officers to search the car and the drugs, as well as under 50 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, were found, Adams said. Additionally, police found Padilla had warrants totaling $905, Adams said.

All three were arrested and transported to the Washington Township police station.

For questions on this report, email ariana.cohn-sheehan@patch.com.