3 nabbed in drug bust

KEARNY —

A Harrison woman was remanded to the Hudson County Jail on $10,000 bail following her arrest in Kearny on drug distribution charges, Kearny police reported.

Taken into custody at the same time for alleged drug possession were two Kearny men.

KPD Chief John Dowie said that, at 4 p.m. April 17, Vice Unit detectives were in the area of Schuyler Ave. and Tappan St. pursuant to an ongoing marijuana-distribution investigation when they witnessed what they believed to be a drug transaction taking place inside a 1997 Nissan.

The suspected customer, identified as Jose Matos, 22, of Kearny, exited the vehicle and began walking west on Tappan, where he was confronted by the officers, who found him to be in possession of a plastic bag containing pot, Dowie said.

Detectives then stopped the Nissan, operated by Rosa Feliciano, 24, of Harrison, at Tappan and Devon Sts., and reportedly saw her passenger, Shawn Mendez, 22, of Kearny, trying to hide something. Police said there was a strong odor of marijuana emanating from him and the vehicle, and several empty ziplock bags were visible in the car.

All three suspects were taken into custody, and in a search incident to arrest, Feliciano was reportedly found to be in possession of $887, believed to be the proceeds of drug transactions. Police said Mendez had two bags of pot.

Because there was still the odor of the drug in the car, police said, it was towed to headquarters. After obtaining a search warrant, the officers found 13 more bags of marijuana in the trunk, Dowie reported.

Feliciano, described as the “ringleader,” was charged with possession of pot and drug paraphernalia and possession with intent to distribute. Police said she was also wanted on motor vehicle warrants from Newark and Wood-Ridge. Her bail was set at $10,000 and she was sent to the county lockup.

Police said Mendez was jailed on possession charges and four outstanding criminal warrants — one from Kearny and three from Harrison. His bail was $1,000.

Matos, charged with possession of pot and paraphernalia, was released on summonses.

Romantic footnote: Detectives said one of the bags of marijuana was labeled “Shawn and Rosa.”