Rt. 18 Car Stop Yields Loaded Gun, Cocaine, Police Say

East Brunswick, NJ - After an East Brunswick police officer pulled a car over on Rt. 18 Friday night, and said he smelled marijuana inside the car, a search of the vehicle revealed cocaine, ecstasy and a loaded gun, police said.

The car was pulled over at 3:56 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 on Rt. 18 northbound just over the New Brunswick line. Ptl. Robert Theoret conducted the motor vehicle stop: He detected the odor of marijuana and conducted a search of the vehicle. While searching the vehicle, he located marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy and a loaded .32 caliber revolver, he said.

The car's occupants, James Lee, 28, and Tatiana Valdez, 24, both from New Brunswick, were taken into custody without incident. Lee was charged with Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Weapon, Possession of Weapon while engaged in Controlled Dangerous Substance and Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon. Lee’s bail was set at $75,000.00.

Valdez was charged with Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Weapon, Possession of Weapon while engaged in Controlled Dangerous Substance. Valdez’s bail was set at $25,000.00. Both were lodged at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center in lieu of bail.