Man Brought Nine Bags of Heroin to Court: South Brunswick Police

A man tried to enter South Brunswick Municipal Court last Tuesday while carrying nine baggies of heroin, township police announced Monday.

Michael Pino, 33, a Franklin resident, was due at the Ridge Road court on Tuesday, Nov. 24 for a court appearance. As he approached the court’s screening area, two officers, Ken Bird and Alan Quercia , told him to empty his pockets. Pino complied, except for a noticeable bulge in his front jeans pocket, according to South Brunswick Police Captain James Ryan.

The officers again told him to empty the pocket or he could not enter court. Instead, Pino placed his hand over the pocket, and refused to reveal what he was concealing. He resisted the two officers and back-up units were called.

The police soon discovered Pino was hiding 9 decks, or bags, of heroin in his pants, all labeled in red “Killer,” police charge. A deck is a wax fold of heroin, which usually sells for $10 to $15 dollars each, according to Ryan.

He was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, obstruction of justice, and resisting arrest, and held on a $20,000 bail. The original case he was going to court on was postponed to a later date.

Photo courtesy South Brunswick Police.