Watchung Police Use K-9 to Find Marijuana

Oliver Atalla, 28, of Bayonne, was charged with possesion of less than 50 grams of marijuana at 9:55 p.m. May 4, after police stopped the vehicle he was driving on the Watchung Circle for not yielding to traffic.

After stopping the vehicle, the officer noticed the smell of marijuana. When Atalla refused to consent to a search of the vehicle, a dog trained to smell narcotics from the Scotch Plains Police Department was called in and confirmed the presence of a controlled substance.

Police then obtained a search warrant, and found less than 50 grams of marijuana in the vehicle. Atalla was charged with failing to yield, possession and possession of a controlled substance in a motor vehicle.

He was released after the charges were filed, pending an appearance in municipal court.

Nancis Mieses, 25, of Jersey City, was also charged with possession of marijuana in the investigation.