Hudson Reporter Archive

Skateboarding drug dealer

After allegedly selling drugs via his skateboard, Guttenberg Police were able to nab a dealer on Aug. 4.
Nicknamed the “skateboard bandit” by police, Capt. Joel Magenheimer said that the investigation was led by Investigator Francisco De Lucia over the last five weeks. Police at first had a hard time arresting the suspect since he would skateboard out of Guttenberg and into neighboring West New York and North Bergen.
However, at around 7:58 p.m. on 72nd Street police arrested John Tarabay, 19, of Guttenberg, after he made one of his alleged drug deals.
“We finally moved in on him and we got him here [in Guttenberg] after he did a transaction,” said Magenehimer.
While he allegedly possessed marijuana on his person at the time, after being arrested his home was searched, which turned up more than 50 grams of alleged marijuana, along with other substances.
According to police reports, the search, which was aided by dogs from the Bergen County K-9 unit, turned up these alleged drugs: two nine-gram bags, two five-gram bags, 50 1.5-gram bags, and 18 .7-gram bags of marijuana, four small bags of what police believe to be hashish and a vial containing marijuana “shake.”
Police say they also found a vial of marijuana seeds, two electronic scales and other paraphernalia.
Tarabay also allegedly possessed Analog, a controlled dangerous substance (C.D.S.) that he did not have a prescription for.

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“In my opinion, if you sell drugs in this town, sooner or later we’re going to meet face to face.” – Joel Magenheimer
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Among the confiscated goods was $1,334 in cash and his skateboard.
“The [investigators] do a hell of a job,” said Magenheimer. “They worked on this for weeks and they went on information and got him. In my opinion, if you sell drugs in this town sooner or later we’re going to meet face to face, because it’s a small town.”

Allegedly tried to run from cops

Tarabay is being charged with possession of a C.D.S., 11 counts of distributing a C.D.S., distributing 500 feet from a government building, distributing 1000 feet from a school zone and two counts of resisting arrest.
Taraby attempted to flee the scene.
“He booked,” said Magenheimer. “He noticed the plain-clothed cops coming because he was [living] here in town and knows everyone.”
Tarabay allegedly ran from 68th Street and Palisade Avenue to 72nd Street and Bergenline Avenue, where cops caught up with him and completed their arrest.
Magenheimer said that after bringing him down to headquarters, Tarabay allegedly said that he only had 20 bags at his apartment. When police searched his house they came up with a lot more alleged pot.

Good work

Magenheimer found it ironic that Tarabay’s mother, whom he lived with, said she had “no idea” about his alleged drug dealings.
“I don’t know how she couldn’t know,” said Magenheimer. “He had drugs all around the house.”
He said that the investigators did an impressive job closing the case, especially since it was hard to catch up to the suspect while he was skating in and out of Guttenberg.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.

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