Police: Hit and Run Accident Leads to Discovery of Drug Paraphernalia

A hit and run accident took place on April 30 on River Road, according to the New Milford Police Department, and the driver was later charged with several counts related to the crash and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

NMPD Officer Justin Pisano and Sgt. Kevin Kiene were dispatched to a River Road home after a report of a hit and run accident involving a no parking sign and the front lawn and sidewalk of a residence. According to the NMPD, the resident of the home was in his backyard when he heard a crash and came around to the front of the house and saw damage to his lawn and the sign but no vehicle. 

The officers determined from debris on the scene that the car involved in the crash was an Audi and both Pisano and Kiene commenced a search for the vehicle, according to police reports. Kiene saw a car he suspected of being involved in the crash 20 minutes later in the area of River Road and Woodland Avenue and pulled the driver over, according to the NMPD. 

Pisano arrived to assist Kiene and noticed both tires on the passenger side of the car, a 2010 black Audi wagon, were damaged and flat and that the "front quarter panel had green rub marks consistent with the color of the no parking sign metal post," according to police reports.

The driver, 21-year-old Sam Weber of Allendale, was removed from the car for questioning and said, "no one came out to help him after the accident and he was not sure as to what had happened," according to police reports.

Weber told police he had driven to a nearby shopping center to assess the damage to his vehicle. 

According to the NMPD, Weber was initially given an evaluation for a DUI but after officers learned he was on authorized prescription medication, they discontinued the DUI assessment after officers believed Weber was "under the influence of medication." Weber was then taken to NMPD headquarters.

NMPD Officer Darrell Marshall came to assist Pisano in the cell room, according to police reports. Marshall said, "I observed him to appear nervous as he sat in a chair awaiting breath tests."

Marshall asked Weber to empty his pockets when he observed, "him push something back back down into his right jean pocket," according to police reports.

Marshall then gave Weber a pat down and discovered a hypodermic syringe, which he removed from his pocket. 

Weber was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report and accident, careless driving and possession of drug paraphernalia.