Mickey Mouse-Clad Teen Charged With Marijuana Distribution

An 18-year-old from Freehold is probably regretting his choice of tank top, after he was arrested on drug charges after a motor vehicle stop led to the discovery of a pound of marijuana at his home, Howell police said.

Howell Police Chief Andrew Kudrick said Nicholas Sokolovski, 18, has been charged with possession of more than 50 grams of marijuana and distribution of more than 1 ounce of marijuana in the Tuesday incident.

“Police officers are known to have a ’sixth sense,’ ” Kudrick said, ”however only their sense of sight was needed in this case,” as Sokolovski’s T-shirt -- an outline of Mickey Mouse ears with a marijuana print and the mouse’s hands blocking its eyes, with the middle fingers raised. See the T-shirt here.

Howell Lt. Thomas Rizzo said Friday that Sokolovki was pulled over for having an obstructed view, and during the stop officers assigned to the Crime Suppression Unit could smell the odor of burned marijuana.

When Sokolovski was asked if he had been using marijuana, he denied it, Rizzo said, ”but typically you don’t wear that kind of shirt” if you’re not a marijuana user, he said.

Officers saw evidence of marijuana distribution in the car and found Sokolovski in possession of 2 ounces of marijuana, Kudrick said.

That led them to ask to search Sokolovski’s home, Rizzo said.

”Any time there is an indication that it crosses the line from possession to distribution, we take the investigation to the next level, if we don’t already have an active investigation into the person,” Rizzo said.

In situations where the person had not been under investigation, “we seek a consensual search of the person’s home,” Rizzo said.

That is what happened in this case, he said.

The consensual search of Solokovski’s home turned up several more packages of marijuana and digital scales, as well as about $500 in cash, Kudrick and Rizzo said. The marijuana seized totaled about 1 pound, Kudrick said.

“Another outstanding job by Howell police officers,” Kudrick said.

(The cash and marijuana seized in the investigation are displayed at Howell police headquarters. Photo credit: Howell Township Police)