Hillsborough man arrested for cocaine possession (The Somerset Reporter)

By Somerset Reporter

January 07, 2010, 1:01PM

SOMERVILLE — A 33-year-old Hillsborough man, Florencio Pinelo of Capricorn Drive, was charged in connection with possession of cocaine after police stopped Pinelo driving in a vehicle on Atkinson Circle in Hillsborough on January 6, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor.

Investigators said a Hillsborough Police K-9 Unit conducted an interior sniff of the vehicle, and Pinelo was alledgely found to have one (1) bag of cocaine in his jacket pocket.

The cocaine seized from this investigation has a street value estimated at approximately $300, police said. Pinelo was arrested and charged with third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance (cocaine) and possession of drug paraphernalia, a disorderly persons offense.

County Prosecutor Wayne Forrest gives the following account of the incidents and allegations surrounding the case:

On January 6, information was received that Pinelo would be driving a white pickup truck in the area of Amwell Road in Hillsborough in possession of a quantity of cocaine.

The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force along with members of the Hillsborough Township Police Department to include the Hillsborough Township Police Department K-9 Unit established surveillance in the area of Capricorn Drive and observed Pinelo enter into a white pickup truck.

Police conducted a moving surveillance on the vehicle. Members of the surveillance unit then conducted a motor vehicle stop on Atkinson Circle in Hillsborough and approached Pinelo for questioning.

Prosecutor Forrest states members of the Task Force conducted a search of Pinelo and the vehicle he was operating. At this time, the Hillsborough Police K-9 Unit conducted an interior sniff of the vehicle. Pinelo was found to have one (1) bag of cocaine in his jacket pocket. Pinelo was placed under arrest and processed at the Hillsborough Township Police Department. Once processed, Pinelo was released on his own recognizance.