Police: Rockaway man caught speeding in Mount Olive, arrested on drug charges

MOUNT OLIVE – – A Rockaway man was arrested on several drug charges after being caught speeding on the highway early Wednesday morning, Mount Olive police said.

At about 12:07 a.m. Wednesday, Officer Constantinos Pagonis was on routine patrol on Route 80 when he saw a silver Acura traveling at a high rate of speed before exiting Route 80 onto Route 46 heading eastbound, Officer Marianne Wurtemberg said.

Pagonis executed a motor vehicle stop on Route 46 near Service Tire and made contact with the driver, Shane Ginard, 26, of Rockaway, Wurtemberg said.

While speaking with Ginard, Pagonis detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle, Wurtemberg said.

Ginard was then asked to exit the vehicle as Pagonis conducted a search, Wurtemberg said.

During the search, Pagonis discovered a plastic bag containing suspected marijuana, two glassine folds of suspected heroin, a plastic bottle cap containing suspected heroin residue, and a prescription pill bottle containing 73 Mylan 345 pills, an anxiety medication for which Ginard did not have a prescription, Wurtemberg said.

Ginard was placed under arrest and during a search, Pagonis discovered three additional bundles of heroin in his front pants pocket, Wurtemberg said.

Ginard was then taken to police headquarters, where he was charged with possession of heroin, possession of a prescription drug, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, careless driving, improper display of plates, failure to exhibit documents, and controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle.

He was released pending a court appearance.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com