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Haworth PD: Driver Who Nearly Hit 2 Police Cars Was Selling Pot To Boy, 17

HAWORTH, N.J. -- A driver in the middle of a drug deal nearly struck one Haworth police officer's patrol cruiser with his car before cutting off another, authorities said Thursday.

Diego E. Pulgarin, Andrea O'Hara

Diego E. Pulgarin, Andrea O'Hara

Photo Credit: IMAGES: Courtesy HAWORTH PD

Sgt. Justin Fox told Daily Voice that he and Officer Andrew Soltes were returning to headquarters to take an incident report when the vehicle swerved in front of his radio car, then cut off Soltes's cruiser behind him.

The driver "apparently was on the phone and not paying attention," he said.

Soltes activated his lights and pulled the driver over, Fox said.

In the car were three young Elmwood Park adults and a 17-year-old Haworth boy who, it turned out, was buying pot from the driver, he said.

Smelling raw marijuana from inside the car, the officers ordered all four occupants out and discovered pot for sale "in a larger sealed bag in an attempt to mask the odor," the sergeant said.

They also summoned a K-9 unit that turned up more pot, he said.

The total haul: nearly three ounces.

The driver, 21-year-old Diego E. Pulgarin, was charged with marijuana possession with the intent to distribute the drug, as well as drug paraphernalia possession.

Rear passenger Andrea O'Hara, also 21, who was sitting next to the Haworth boy, was charged with marijuana possession.

A 20-year-old front passenger wasn't charged, Fox said.

All were processed and released pending a court hearing.

The boy, meanwhile, was released to his parents pending juvenile complaints.

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