Police Charge Rockfall Man With Operating a Drug Factory

A Rockfall man was arrested earlier this week after police found a large amount of marijuana in his SUV and his bedroom, according to a police report. 

Alexander Tomaselli, 21, of 146 Peters Lane, was charged Monday with operating a drug factory.

According to Middletown Police, at approximately 9:30 p.m. Tomaselli was observed selling marijuana to an unidentified woman in the parking lot of the M Mart convenience store located at the corner of Newfield and Westfield streets in Middletown.

When police stopped Tomaselli near Spencer Elementary School they immediately detected an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, the report says. The also observed a large butcher's knife in the driver's side door.

Inside the vehicle, police say they found a backpack containing 35 grams of marijuana, as well as a digital scale, packaging material, a marijuana grinder and a smoking pipe.

After reading Tomaselli his Miranda rights, detectives received permission from Tomaselli and his mother to search his bedroom at 146 Peters Lane where they found an additional 90 grams of marijuana.

The drugs had a street value of $1,250, according to police.

In addition, police recovered $5,000 from a safe deposit box and $268 in cash that Tomaselli had been carrying, the report says.

Tomaselli is charged with possession of over 4 ounces of marijuana, possession of marijuana in a school zone, sale of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell in a school zone, possession of drug paraphernalia in a school zone and weapon in a motor vehicle.

Tomaselli was released on $100,000 bond. He's due in court August 5.