Possession of Narcotics and Hindering Apprehension

A Sussex couple was arrested early Tuesday afternoon and are facing serious narcotic charges after the vehicle they were traveling in was stopped because the front seat passenger was not wearing his seatbelt. At 2:00 pm, Cpl. Marc Rubino observed a 2000 blue Buick Century traveling north on Rte 15 in the area near the Jefferson Township border. What drew Rubino’s attention to this vehicle was that the front seat passenger was not wearing his seatbelt.

A short time later, Rubino and Officer Scott Elig conducted a stop on the vehicle. Rubino spoke to the operator who explained to the officer that she did not have her driver’s license in her possession but identified herself as 20-year-old Chelsea E. Connelly. Elig spoke to the front seat passenger, identified as 32-year-old Michael J. Bello. Bello was extremely lethargic and had difficulty staying awake and speaking to the officer. Elig also observed a fresh, bloody injection puncture on his arm. Both parties gave conflicting stories as to where they were coming from and where they were going.

Sussex Resident 32-year-old Michael J. Bello (Photo courtsey of the Sparta Twp. Police Dept.)

After speaking to Rubino, Connely admitted to giving a false first name and birth date. She explained that her first name was Tiffany and she was 26-years-of age. Rubino requested and received a written Consent to Search the vehicle.

The search was conducted with the assistance of Hopatcong Police K-9 Officer Thomas Snyder and K-9 Eli. The subsequent search yielded numerous pieces of drug paraphernalia from the rear passenger seat area that included but was not limited to; numerous empty glassine folds stamped “ROSE” along with bloody tissues.

Sussex Resident 26-year-old Tiffany Connelly (Photo courtsey of the Sparta Twp. Police Dept.)

After K-9 Eli “alerted” to the trunk area of the vehicle, officers recovered from inside this space 150 glassine bags containing Heroin stamped, “JORDAN.” The couple was arrested and transported to Sparta Police Headquarters for processing.

Connely was charged with; Possession of Heroin, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Hindering Apprehension by Providing False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance in a Motor Vehicle, Driving While Suspended and several documentation violations.

Bello was charged with; Possession of Heroin, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Failure to Wear a Seatbelt. They were both released on their own recognizance early that evening with a return date in Sparta Municipal Court on November 14^th at 8:30 am to answer to the charges. Sgt. Jeffrey Mase assisted with the investigation.

Editor’s Note: Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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