Man arrested on drug charges after being found unconscious behind wheel in Morris County
DENVILLE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Morris County) — A Jefferson Township man is facing multiple drug and motor vehicle charges after Denville police allegedly found him unconscious behind the wheel of a vehicle on Franklin Road over the weekend, authorities said.
According to police, officers received a 9-1-1 call at approximately 4:52 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, reporting a driver slumped over the steering wheel near the traffic light at Route 46 and Franklin Road.
Responding officers located the vehicle and attempted to wake the driver, later identified as Paul Rankin Jr., 32, by knocking on the window. Upon making contact, officers determined that Rankin was under the influence of narcotics.
A subsequent search revealed suspected heroin, suspected crack cocaine, crack smoking pipes, hypodermic needles, and other drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle, police said.
Rankin was arrested and charged with two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, and careless driving.
Authorities also discovered that Rankin had multiple outstanding criminal and traffic warrants from various jurisdictions. Following processing, he was lodged at the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a future court appearance.
