"TRY ANOTHER TRUCK STOP !!!"

On January 26, 2003 at 1:29 am, Officer Travis Canning of the Mahwah Police Department, while patrolling Route 17 south, observed a 1999 Lincoln navigator parked in the south east corner of the Travel Express Truck Stop lot. As Officer Canning passed the vehicle he noticed that the vehicle's interior light and running board lights were illuminated, but didn't observe anyone inside the vehicle. Thinking this was suspicious, Officer Canning turned around and pulled into the parking lot to investigate.

As Officer Canning pulled in front of the navigator he illuminated the interior of the vehicle and observed an individual sitting in the driver's seat. While the officer began to enter the vehicle's license plate into the police car's laptop computer, the driver jumped out of the vehicle and ran west through the truck stop lot. Officer canning transmitted the description of the driver and the direction he ran over the radio to responding police cars. Officer Canning immediately checked the Navigator to see if there was anyone who needed assistance. While looking in the vehicle he noticed two large plastic bags that contained a large amount of marijuana.

Officer Canning then observed a U-Haul van pulling away from a tractor-trailer that was parked in the south end of the parking lot. Officer Canning stepped away from the Navigator and started signaling for the vehicle to slow down as it approached him. The driver of the U-Haul then stopped the vehicle and began running west through the parking lot. Officer Canning transmitted the description and direction of travel to police units responding.

Officer Renee Maupai located the driver of the Navigator walking on Ridge Road behind the truck stop and apprehended him with the assistance of Officer Thomas Solimano. Subsequent investigation revealed that the U-Haul van contained twenty-seven bundles of marijuana. The tractor-trailer that was parked next to the U-Haul van was discovered with the rear trailer door open. When the officers looked in the open door they discovered six more large bundles of marijuana identical to those located in the Navigator and van. The bundles were lying atop crates of fresh produce that was destined for a wholesaler in Bronx, New York.

Seized was approximately sixteen hundred pounds of marijuana with an approximate street value of $3.5 million dollars, the Lincoln Navigator, U-Haul van and tractor-trailer.

A search of the area for the driver of the U-Haul and any unknown suspects associated with the tractor-trailer was conducted by the Mahwah Police Department K-9, Bergen County Police K-9, Ramsey Police Department, Allendale Police Department, Upper Saddle River Police Department and Saddle River Police Department throughout the morning, but the individuals were not located.

The apprehended individual was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana over twenty-five pounds, within 1000 feet of a school zone and resisting arrest.

The NJNEOA proudly salutes Officer Travis Canning, Officer Renee Maupai and Officer Thomas Solimano of the Mahwah Police Department for their efforts.

Officer Travis Canning with the seized bundles of marijuana.