Police: Man Facing Drug Charges Falls Asleep In Fort Lee Court

A Bronx man was charged with contempt court after he fell asleep in Fort Lee municipal court on drug arrests, authorities said.

Carlos D. Ortiz, 32, of Bronx, New York, was in municipal court at 1 p.m. on charges related to earlier drug arrests, said Joe Pentangelo, a public information officer for the Port Authority Police Department.

Ortiz kept falling asleep when Port Authority Police Officer Frank Emblen saw that Ortiz’s eyes were bloodshot and he could not sit up straight; Pentangelo said.

Emblen saw a white powdery substance in Ortiz’s nose; Ortiz was taken to a secure location in the court and was arrested and charged with contempt of court.

Authorities found a $20 bill and a clear plastic straw with cocaine residue in Ortiz’s pocket; Ortiz told authorities he used cocaine the night before, Pentangelo said.

Ortiz also had four glassine bags of heroin on him, police said.

He was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance; he was arraigned and bail was set at $15,000.

(Pictured: Carlos D. Ortiz, 32/Courtesy of Port Authority Police Department)