Driver Asleep At Green Light Had Heroin, Sparta Police Say

SPARTA, NJ — A driver asleep behind the wheel at a green light had heroin in the car, Sparta police said.

Christopher Mattessich, 26, of Sparta, was arrested Thursday morning after police say he was asleep at a green light.

Police say they found Mattessich at the intersection of Sparta Ave and Main Street shortly after midnight on Thursday. His head was pressed against the window, but as a police car approached Mattessich began driving.

Mattessich was pulled over, and police said he was lethargic and clumsy when moving, but denied being drunk and was able to pass a filed sobriety test. Officers say they found an orange needle cap, but Mattessich denied it was his, saying he quit heroin and it belong to friends.

After Mattessich told police they couldn't search his car, a police dog was utilized, and alerted officers to drugs inside the car, police said.

Police say they found six full wax folds of heroin, seven empty wax folds, one plastic container with marijuana in it, one empty Suboxone wrapper, one cigarette with the cotton filter pulled out, one multi-colored marijuana pipe, one glass pipe and one hypodermic syringe.

Mattessich was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a car, careless driving, obstructing passage of other vehicles, possession of heroin, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a hypodermic syringe.

He was released with an upcoming court date.

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