Wrong number: Man accidentally texted cop to sell marijuana, Sparta police say

sparta cash.jpg

Police say they found marijuana, a digital scale and cash on a man who accidentally texted an Andover Township cop to set up a drug sale.

(Courtesy of Sparta Police.)

— Those charges for texting can be a real pain.

Police say a Sussex man accidentally texted an Andover Township Police lieutenant to set up a drug sale late last week — and messaging that very, very wrong number led to the man's arrest.

Nicholas Delear Jr.

Andover Lt. Eric Danielson had recently purchased a new cell phone, with a new cell number, according to Sparta police. And at about 7:45 p.m. Friday, he got a text from someone — later identified as 33-year-old Nicholas Delear Jr. — saying he had a quarter-pound of marijuana for sale, according to police.

So they set up a meeting at a pizzeria in Sparta, police said. Delear told the lieutenant he'd be driving a 2005 black Jeep, police said.

Andover and Sparta police worked with the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office to set up the bust, police said. An undercover officer was placed in the parking lot, and a perimeter was established around the pizzeria, police said. At 8:15 p.m., Delear drove into the parking lot and met with the undercover officer, police said.

But Delear became suspicious and attempted to flee, police said. He was stopped by a marked Sparta Police vehicle a short time later, police said.

Delear told police he didn't know anything about the texts, and wasn't in possession of any drugs, police said. He also wouldn't consent to officers searching his vehicle, police said. So Sussex County Sheriff’s Detective Kieran McMorrow was dispatched along with K9 Atlas, police said.

Danielson — the lieutenant with the lucky number — arrived on the scene matched the texts on his phone with Delear’s cell phone number, police said.

McMorrow led Atlas around the exterior of Delear's vehicle, and the K9 picked up the scent of narcotics in the vehicle, police said. Assistant Sussex County Prosecutor Thomas Reed then assisted patrols with applying for a search warrant by telephone, police said. The warrant was granted and executed at a little bit after 10 p.m., police said.

That's when officers found a white plastic bag with a large freezer bag in a rear compartment behind the driver's seat, police said. Inside were four smaller bags with more than an ounce of marijuana, 11 smaller bags, a digital pocket scale and $620 in cash, police said.

Delear was placed under arrest and transported to Sparta Police Headquarters, where he was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug Paraphernalia, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle and several motor vehicle infractions, police said.

He was released early Saturday morning on his own recognizance, with a scheduled first appearance in Sparta Municipal Court on Oct. 10, police said.

Sgt. John Lamon, Officer Brian Hassloch and Cpls Andrew Smetana and Robert Fraser assisted with the investigation, police said.

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