WILDWOOD CREST – A police K-9 named Quest was used during a traffic stop to determine the presence of narcotics in a vehicle, leading to the arrest of a passenger on drug and weapons charges.

On Friday, May 3, K-9 Officer Tyler Lavender stopped a vehicle on Sweetbriar Road when he became suspicious that there was criminal activity. Lavender deployed Quest around the exterior of the vehicle, and the dog indicated the presence of the odor of narcotics.

Upon searching the vehicle, officers found suspected methamphetamine in a black backpack belonging to a passenger, identified as Alexander Hudson. The backpack also contained a .43-caliber CO2-powered BB gun, a metallic expandable baton, a face mask, gloves and a lock-pick set. Hudson claimed ownership of all of the items.

He was charged with second-degree certain person not to possess weapons, second-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, for the handgun, third-degree for the baton, third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, for the methamphetamine, and possession of burglary tools, which is a disorderly persons offense. Hudson was lodged in the Cape May County Correctional Center.