Three people were arrested on drug-related charges after two of them got lost in a New Jersey park on Sept. 9. A 24-year-old woman caught the attention of an officer at approximately 6:15 a.m., claiming that she needed help finding her two friends because they could be under the influence of a controlled substance and had been missing in Shark River Park for a significant amount of time.
Police officers set a perimeter up around the park and deployed the K9 unit to search for the missing 23-year-old man and 25-year-old woman. Officers found the woman nearby the American Legion located on Gully Road. Police took her into custody when their on-site investigation indicated that she was under the influence of a controlled substance. After an extensive search of the park, officers located the man.
He was also detained and charged for being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance as well as possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Police helped the two individuals obtain medical attention as well. The woman who initially approached the officer was also charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and being under the influence of a controlled substance. The three individuals may benefit from seeking legal counsel as soon as possible.
People who have been charged with a drug crime typically benefit from contacting a criminal defense lawyer. These lawyers may be able to employ multiple defense strategies after reviewing the facts of the incident. Legal counsel might try to devalue the prosecution's case by exposing procedural errors, misconduct or rights violations to the judge presiding over the case. Evidence of a serious infraction could compel a judge to reduce the charges or dismiss them altogether.
Source: NJ.com, "Search for pair lost in Monmouth County park results in drug charges", Rob Spahr, September 10, 2014