At 2:30 p.m. Sunday, a 2003 Ford Taurus being driven by Daniel Morgan, 23, passed officers on the way to pay the toll to head into New York and the officers could smell suspected burnt marijuana, according to Joe Pentangelo, senior police public information officer. When an officer spoke to Morgan, the officers said they could strongly smell marijuana around him and pulled him over. Marcel Priest, 22, also was in the car with Morgan.
The car was missing its front license plate and Morgan was unable to give police a driver’s license, registration or proof of insurance. A partially burned suspected marijuana cigarette was seen in the front ashtray and Morgan seemed “sluggish and drowsy,” Pentangelo said in a press release.
Morgan and Priest were arrested and the car was impounded. Further investigation revealed the rear license plate was registered to a rental car and had expired in 2004. Morgan also had an outstanding warrant out of Paterson with full bail.
Morgan was charged with driving under the influence, possession of marijuana and various traffic summonses while Priest was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance.