What began as just a simple call for a possible water leak turned out to be one of the largest marijuana confiscations in Weehawken history.
On July 17, 2002, the North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue first responded to a call of a water leak and flooding in a multi-unit dwelling in the 500 block of Hudson Avenue.
"Someone called and said that water was coming down from the apartment above him," Weehawken Deputy Police Chief Robert DelPriore said. "When the regional firefighters couldn’t get into the apartment, we sent officers over there to enter the apartment, to find out what was causing the leak."
When the officers used forced entry to get into the apartment, they couldn’t believe their eyes.
It turned out to be that the entire apartment, according to police, contained marijuana, fluorescent lights to grow it, and a professional irrigation system – which turned out to be not professional after all.
"The irrigation system leaked and then overflowed," DelPriore said. "That’s what caused the flooding."
However, the police discovered the apartment was arranged to have the best atmosphere to grow the countless plants.
"The entire room and apartment was devoted to the growth of the marijuana," DelPriore said. "There were large ceiling lights used to cultivate plants. The temperature was set in the apartment to make it conducive for growth. The windows were blackened with black shades to keep the sun out."
Mommy pot, daddy pot, and baby pot
There were several adult plants in huge pots, but there were several other seedlings that were just beginning cultivation. In all, 73 plants were discovered, with a street value of approximately $50,000. Two Department of Public Works trucks were sent to transport the confiscated narcotics and equipment back to police headquarters.
"It was a great effort," DelPriore said, crediting the work of Sgt. Carl Pasqualini and Detectives Mike Calligy and James Casey. "They found a portable safe, so we needed a warrant to go into the safe, as well as to get some computer equipment that was found in the apartment."
When the safe was opened, police found a white, powdery substance, believed to be cocaine, with a street value of approximately $30,000, they said.
After the discovery, police issued a warrant for the apprehension of 33-year-old Tiromar Rivera of Belleville, who is allegedly the mastermind of the operation.
"He’s not a Weehawken resident, and we do not think that he was selling any of this in Weehawken," DelPriore said. "We believe that he was just growing it here and distributing elsewhere."
In any case, Rivera faces a host of serious charges when he is apprehended. The litany of charges could draw Rivera as much as 100 years in prison if convicted.
"We are following some leads to his whereabouts," DelPriore said. "He’s on the run. This was not his main address. He never lived here. He used this apartment strictly as his factory. We asked some of the residents and apparently, they didn’t have a clue what was going on there."
Although Rivera did not live in Weehawken, he had a prior arrest in the town, for a domestic violence offense in 1993, police said.
Joint effort
DelPriore said that it was a "substantial find," one that wasn’t expected when both public safety organizations responded to the call.
"I’m just glad we got it before it got out on to the street," DelPriore said.
Public Safety Director Jeff Welz said that you never know what you’re going to find when responding to a call. A simple water leak and flood might not be that after all.
"Unfortunately today, when police and firefighting personnel respond to a seemingly innocuous situation, you never know what you are walking into," Welz said. "The regional fire department can force entry without a search warrant, and because anything is possible when they walk into a house, the protocol is that police must always be present.
Added Welz, "There are no indications that this person was distributing his narcotics anywhere in town. In fact, narcotics patterns show that they select quiet, low-crime neighborhoods to grow their product and then take their product elsewhere."