Littered Cigarette Leads To Heroin Bust in Mendham Twp.: Cops

MENDHAM TWP., N.J. – A pair of motorists traveling through Mendham Township were nabbed in a heroin bust after allegedly committing a moving violation, Lt. Ross Johnson said.

Around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 20, Sgt. Matt Ambrosi observed a vehicle driving westbound on Route 24 and failing to maintain its lane, Johnson said. While driving behind the car, Ambrosi witnessed the driver throw a lit cigarette out the window and subsequently made a traffic stop, Johnson said.

Upon speaking with the driver, Michelle Lehner, 23, of Summit, Ambrosi saw a rolled up $2 bill containing white residue near the driver inside the vehicle, Johnson said. Lehner and her passenger, Marc Cooper, 24, of Mountain Lakes, were asked to step out of the vehicle. In doing so, Lehner attempted to hide the bill, which Ambrosi later found inside a cigarette pack with heroin, Johnson said.

The Morris County Sheriff’s K-9 unit responded and law enforcement found 47 folds of heroin in the vehicle along with numerous used folds, Johnson said.

Lehner and Cooper were released on their own recognizance with a court date.