2 Hopatcong Men Had Cocaine in Car, Cops Say

A Hopatcong police officer’s decision to stop a vehicle after it nearly swerved into a patrol car led to the arrest of two men on drug charges Monday, Lt. Thomas Kmetz said.

Officer Kern was traveling on River Styx Road when a vehicle approached his patrol car and swerved over the double yellow lines, Kmetz said. Kern turned around and conducted a motor vehicle stop.

During an investigation, Hopatcong police found Travis Tinio, 22, was driving with passenger Joseph Gibney, 20, and observed a bag of white powder between the front seats, Kmetz said.

The bag’s substance was tested and confirmed to be cocaine, Kmetz said. Police also found two bags commonly used to package the drugs in the car, Kmetz said. Neither Tinio or Gibney would admit to possessing the drug, Kmetz said, and both were arrested.

Gibney was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and Tinio was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle and failure to maintain lane.

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Photo Credit: Hopatcong Police Department. Left, Travis Tinio; Right, Joseph Gibney.