Man Arrested On Pot Charge In Middletown Police HQ Parking Lot

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A Queens man who traveled to Middletown to sell a motorcycle was arrested by Middletown police for allegedly having marijuana in his car. Police said they stopped to talk him Saturday while he was waiting in the parking lot of Middletown police headquarters, which he had seen as a safe place to do the all-cash motorbike sale.

This happened Saturday, Sept. 5: Middletown police said they saw Arturo Munoz, 25, of Elmhurst, Queens park next to a police car and then stand in the parking lot of police headquarters/the Township building off Kings Highway.

Patrolman Daniel Flannigan approached Munoz , who advised the officer that he was there to sell a motorcycle and that he and the buyer were going to be meeting at the police station to conduct the transaction.

Since it was going to be a cash transaction, the buyer had requested using the Middletown police department to ensure the safety of both parties.

Munoz agreed and traveled from Queens to Middletown. As Flannigan was talking with Munoz, the officer said he smelled "a strong odor of raw, unburned marijuana coming from Munoz’s vehicle."

Munoz then admitted there was marijuana in the car, said police, and the drugs were seized.

Munoz was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana in an amount of 50 grams or less. He was released on a summons complaint.