Drug arrests running high in Metuchen
Police say borough is on pace for 80 arrests by year's end
BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

METUCHEN - The borough has seen a spike in drug arrests since 2004, according to police.

"Over the course of April, May and June, we have had 37 drug arrests [which include adults and juveniles]," said Detective Sgt. David Irizarry. "We had the highest in June with 21 drug arrests."

The report included two people on drug overdoses, who were found dead upon arrival.

"If we continue to go at this pace, we will break more than 80 drug arrests by the end of the year," he said.

In response to the increased drug arrests, the police department has increased narcotic surveillance.

"I have dedicated a couple of my detectives solely to the increased drug problem in the area," said Irizarry. "We are working closely with Edison Narcotic detectives and the Middlesex County Task Force."

In 2003, Metuchen police made 60 drug arrests in the entire year. In 2004, police made 34 drug arrests, and in 2005 there were 57. In 2006, there were 31.

Irizarry said he is not sure what has contributed to the increase, however, Police Chief James Keane said he feels the increase is due to a combination of aggressive patrols with the use of the laptops (which the department started using in January) in the police vehicles, more drug intelligence leads for the detectives and the more affordable costs of drugs such as heroin.

"The officers can use the laptops to run random license plates, which could lead to probable cause for the officers to stop the vehicles," said Keane.

Irizarry agreed.

"A lot of car stops lead to these arrests," he said. "I credit our patrol division for making these observations and being alert."

Irizarry said he has noticed an increase in various drugs such as heroin, cocaine and the designer drug ecstasy this past year.

"The increase in heroin is probably because it is cheap and it is extremely addictive," he said.

Irizarry said he has seen more marijuana use with the juveniles and more heroin use with the young adults.

Irizarry said all kinds of people (resident and nonresident) have been arrested.

"It hasn't been in a bar or tavern, it has been in random locations throughout the borough," he said.

"We will do everything we can to slow down if not eliminate the drug use and to find the source and put an end to it," he said.