Fair Lawn Man Caught With Marijuana After Police Chase Him Through Yard

FAIR LAWN, NJ - A Fair Lawn man was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana after police investigated what they thought was a burglary.

Police arrested Jose Malave, 37 of Haledon, on warrant out of Clifton as he was walking along Route 208 South, Sgt. Brian Metzler said.

While checking that side of the highway and adjoining backyards for “possible proceeds of a crime,” Detective Sgt. Tim O’Shaughnessy and Detective Paul Donohue saw Malik Contee, 20, of Fair Lawn, running from a front yard, Metzler said.

Believing a burglary was occurring, the detectives hopped the fence and stopped the vehicle Contee entered, police said.

Contee and the driver, Scott Marcoux, 21, of Hawthorne, were arrested after marijuana and a digital scale were found inside the vehicle; the men were at the home to pick up the marijuana and scale, Metzler said.

In addition the possession with intent to distribute charge, Contee was charged with possession with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a public park, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released after his $30,000 bail was posted, the sergeant said.

Marcoux was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and released.

Malave was charged with bail jumping. His bail was set at $2,500 and he was sent to the Bergen County Jail, police said.