30 Decks Of Heroin, Needle Found Inside Swerving Driver's Car: Cops

SPARTA TWP., N.J. – A Sparta Township man with a history of drug arrests was nabbed once more recently when police said he was swerving while driving and was allegedly in possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia.

On Thursday, May 12, at 11:16 p.m., Cpl. Dave Pridham was patrolling Route 15 and saw a vehicle having a difficult time maintaining a lane, Sgt. Dennis Proctor said.

The vehicle crossed over the fog line and dotted lines on multiple occasions, Proctor said.

Pridham stopped the vehicle and met with the driver, Lance Beckman, 28, who appeared to be operating his vehicle under the influence of drugs, Proctor said.

A consent search of the vehicle turned up 30 was folds of heroin and drug paraphernalia, Proctor said, and Beckman failed a series of field sobriety tests. Beckman was arrested for DWI and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. He was later tested by the department’s drug recognition expert and was determined to be operating the vehicle under the influence of drugs, Proctor said.

Beckman was further charged with possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of hypodermic needles, along with driving while intoxicated, failure to maintain a single lane of travel, careless driving and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle.

He was released the following day with a court date.

In 2014, Beckman was part of a statewide dragnet that arrested more than 300 heroin dealers and users. He was arrested earlier this year for possession of a hypodermic needle as well.