Fairfield (NJ) The Fairfield Police Department announces the arrest of Marina Canzanese (35) of Haledon, N.J. for being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence on August 24, 2019.
On that date, at approximately 7:15 P.M., police officers were dispatched to the Dollar Tree store located at 461 Route 46 West to investigate a report of an erratic driver that almost hit the building. A witness to the incident told police that the vehicle involved which was described as a 2007 blue Honda, jumped the curb and almost went into the Dollar Tree store. It then backed up and almost struck a parked car.
Officer Louis Bisciotti and other officers arrived on the scene to discover a blue Honda, with the same license plate that was given to the dispatcher, in a parking spot in front of the Dollar Tree store. The vehicle was unoccupied with its engine running. It is alleged that the vehicle had an overwhelming odor of marijuana coming from inside.
A witness to the initial incident provided the officers with a description of the driver. The officers eventually found Canzanese in the store and identified her as the alleged driver. While speaking with her, it is alleged that she displayed signs and symptoms consistent with being under the influence to include constantly moving around and unable to stand in one place, droopy eyelids and her clothing smelled like burnt marijuana.
At this point field sobriety tests were administered. Based upon the results of these tests and the totality of the circumstances, Canzanese was placed under arrest. It is alleged that the investigation led to the discovery of a small amount of suspected marijuana inside of the Honda. She was transported to headquarters where she was given a breath test and underwent an examination by a certified drug recognition expert from the North Caldwell Police Department. She was eventually released on her own recognizance pending an initial appearance in the Fairfield Municipal Court on August 29, 2019.
(It should be noted that the charges against Canzanese are merely allegations and that she is presumed innocent until she either pleads guilty or is found guilty in a court of law)
Authorized by: Chief Anthony Manna
