Crime & Safety

Police Blotter: More Possession Than the Exorcist

In recent weeks, Collingswood police have encountered a number of residents and visitors who were allegedly holding.

All information presented in these reports was gathered from the . An arrest is not a conviction.

Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
On April 12, officers on patrol at the Heights of Collingswood detected a strong smell of burnt marijuana from a 2005 Dodge Magnum station wagon. They approached the vehicle and asked the occupants, Ronnie Hand, 35, and James Laboo, 36, both of Woodlynne, to exit the vehicle.

During a pat-down, officers discovered a large Ziploc bag containing what they believed to be marijuana. A search of the car revealed a large amount of cash and five glass jars, each containing what they believed to be marijuana.

Hand was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), possession of CDS in a motor vehicle, possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a park and possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a park. He was sent to the Camden County Correctional Facility pending a trial date.

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Possession of marijuana in a vehicle
At 11 a.m. on April 18, officers stopped a red 1992 Mercury at the intersection of Haddon Avenue and Route 130 for operating with an out-of-date inspection sticker. The driver, Deon Still, 32, of Camden, was unable to provide appropriate documentation, and neither he nor his passenger was wearing a seat belt.

Officers detected an odor of raw marijuana in vehicle, and a search of the car revealed a quantity of what they believed to be marijuana in the vehicle glove box. Furthermore, after checking Still’s identification, they discovered that he was wanted on multiple, full-cash municipal warrants totally about $1,300. Still was subsequently arrested and sent to the Camden County Correctional Facility.

Find out what's happening in Collingswoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Possession of a hypodermic needle
At 12:57 p.m. on April 27, officers on patrol in the 100 block of Ardmore Terrace observed Gerald Hancock, 42, of Gloucester City, walking a bicycle at the end of the dead-end street. After speaking with Hancock, they were dissatisfied that he as the rightful owner of the bike, and performed a physical search, which revealed that he was in possession of a hypodermic needle.

Officers arrested Hancock with possession of a hypodermic needle, and left cards in the doors of homes along the street asking for information on the bicycle, which they believe was stolen.

Possession of heroin
On May 1, officers on patrol in the area of Haddon Avenue and Route 130 observed James Matrale, 21, of Collingswood, jumping the guardrail along the highway. When they stopped him, Matrale reportedly seemed nervous, which led officers to ask whether he was in possession of anything illegal.

Matrale then voluntarily surrendered a folded piece of wax paper containing what officers believed to be heroin. He was arrested, charged with possession of CDS and released on his own recognizance.


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