OCEAN COUNTY – Lakewood police arrested a Forked River man after officers responded to a report of a driver who appeared to be nodding off inside a vehicle at a gas station along Ocean Avenue, authorities said.
The driver was later identified as Christopher Polperio, 46, of Forked River. Police said officers were dispatched to the scene at about 10:51 p.m. on January 5 and made contact with the driver, who showed signs consistent with drug impairment.
Based on their observations, officers conducted standardized field sobriety tests, police said. During the initial investigation, drug paraphernalia was observed in plain view inside the vehicle.
A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of suspected controlled dangerous substances and additional drug paraphernalia, according to police.
Polperio was taken into custody without incident and charged on a warrant with possession of controlled dangerous substances and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also issued motor vehicle summonses, including driving while intoxicated and possession of CDS in a motor vehicle.
He was transported to the Ocean County Jail following his arrest.
The investigation was handled by Officer James Komsa, with assistance from Officers D’Angelo and B. Rodriguez, police said.
All charges are accusations, and Polperio is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
