Camden Man Hid 40 Bags of Suspected Heroin in Anus

On March 26, 2017, Brooklawn Police Officer Michael Brewster conducted a motor vehicle stop of a 2000 Honda Accord for an equipment violation in the area of Verchio’s Produce.

The driver, Pedro Hernandez, was found to be driving on a suspended driver’s license. He was also found to have an outstanding warrant out for his arrest.

Front seat passenger, Lay Colon, initially provided officers with a false name. Rear seat passenger, Michael Pagan, was found to have an active warrant out for his arrest.

Officer Brewster requested the assistance of Gloucester City Police Department Officer Blaise O’Donnell and his canine, Demo, to conduct a narcotics sniff of the vehicle because it was suspected that narcotics were inside the vehicle.

Upon the arrival of the canine team, a sniff was conducted and the K-9 indicated for the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.

From performing a subsequent vehicle search, officers located a loaded .44 caliber revolver in the trunk of the vehicle, which the driver, Pedro Hernandez later admitted was his.

Hernandez was transported to police headquarters, processed, and issued a criminal warrant. He was then transported to the Camden County Correctional Facility where he would be held pending a detention hearing.

Shortly after Officer Brewster turned Hernandez over to the jail staff, he was advised that Hernandez had hidden 40 bags of suspected heroin in his anus.

Hernandez, 23, of  Camden, was arrested and charged with Unlawful Possession of a Weapon – 2nd Degree; Certain Persons not to have Weapons – 4th Degree; and Contempt of Court (Warrants). Additional charges will be issued for the alleged narcotics possession.

The front seat passenger, Lay Colon, 18, of Pennsauken, was later found to have an active warrant out for her arrest after officers learned her true identity. Colon was transported to police headquarters, issued a criminal summons for providing a law enforcement officer with false information, and was released on her own recognizance.

The rear passenger, Michael Pagan, 24, of Voorhees, was found to have an active warrant out for his arrest. He was transported to police headquarters, processed, and charged with Contempt of Court. He was released on his own recognizance.

All persons charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law.

(Source: Brooklawn PD)