Cops: Teen Wanted In Washington Twp. Resisted Arrest, Jailed For Having Hypodermic Needle

The Hackettstown teen arrested twice in six days for heroin possession during the summer is back in jail, this time on bail, after he allegedly resisted arrest when being questioned about outstanding warrants.

Mansfield Police requested assistance from Hackettstown Police just after 8 p.m. Thursday night in locating Ian Rossi, 19, of Hackettstown, Sgt. Darren Tynan said.

Rossi allegedly fled a residence in Mansfield Village and was later found on College View Drive in Hackettstown, Tynan said.

Rossi had a hypodermic needle in his possession, Tynan said, and Hackettstown police had been looking for him due to outstanding warrants after he eluded them the night before during questioning.

Rossi had two active municipal court criminal warrants for his arrest, in each in the amount of $750, and another $250 warrant from Independence Township.

In July, Rossi was arrested twice by Washington Township police in less than a week.

According to previous reports, on July 17 at 9:25 p.m., Cpl. Michael Hade and Officer Kevin Barnes were on foot patrol conducting a property check of the pool at Peachtree Village Apartment Complex when they found Ian Rossi, 19, of Hackettstown, Almer said.

When speaking with Rossi, the officers noticed the teen drop a bag of heroin from a rolled up sweatshirt, Almer said.

A search of Rossi revealed “several” bags of heroin, drug paraphernalia, and a hypodermic needle, Almer said. Rossi was charged with possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a hypodermic needle.

Just six days later, on July 23 at 9:39 p.m., Hade was conducting a property check on a Route 46 structure and found several subjects behind the closed area, Almer said.

Rossi and Sebastian Smith, 21, of Independence Township, showing signs of being under the influence of drugs.

A search of Rossi and Smith found both to be in possession of heroin, hypodermic needles, and drug paraphernalia.

Both were charged with possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of hypodermic needles, and being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance.

Rossi was arrested Thursday on those warrants and possession of a hypodermic needle and jailed in lieu of $7,500 bail. He was remanded to the Warren County Correctional Facility.