Cops Find Drugs, Cash And Starving Dogs In NJ Home

Fair Lawn, New Jersey police have arrested a man after they discovered drugs, thousands of dollars in cash and malnourished dogs at his residence.

Thirty-four-year-old Marquan Carter was arrested last Wednesday for distribution of heroin, distribution of cocaine, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) within 1,000 feet of a school zone, two counts of possession of CDS, endangering the welfare of a juvenile and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to police documents.

Additionally, two 12-year-olds and one 13-year-old were also in the residence, police said. The children were subsequently placed in the care of another family member. A search in Carter’s residence turned up 16 grams of cocaine, six ounces of heroin and over $47,000 in cash.

NBC reports that the warrant was executed after a month-long police investigation. Police also found 11 dogs, underfed in cages at the residence. The animals, seven adult dogs, two eight-week-old puppies and two one-week-old puppies, were removed from the home and taken to the Bergen County Animal Shelter, where they received a complete medical exam. They are expected to survive although two have heartworm disease and six were underweight. Some also have significant scarring.

The animal cruelty charges are still being investigated by police as Carter is being sent to Bergen County Jail while his car and cash are being held for seizure.

New Jersey has had a long and unfortunate history of Animal Cruelty. Last year, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed new animal cruelty-prevention legislation that changes municipal court requirements to allow more consideration of abusive circumstances in cases where dogs are at risk of euthanasia.

The bill also prohibits courts from declaring a dog to be potentially dangerous for causing bodily injury in the act of defending its owner from a person committing or attempting to commit a crime against them.