A man from Jefferson Township was taken into custody after officers found him unresponsive in a vehicle near the traffic light on Franklin Road at Route 46, according to the Denville Police Department.
Around 4:52 p.m., police responded to a call about an unconscious driver and located Paul Rankin Jr. slumped over the steering wheel. Officers knocked on the window to wake him and, upon interaction, determined he was under the influence of narcotics.
A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of heroin, crack cocaine, crack pipes, hypodermic needles, and other drug-related items, police said.
Rankin is facing multiple charges, including two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, and careless driving.
Further investigation revealed that Rankin had several outstanding criminal and traffic warrants from various jurisdictions. He was transported to the Morris County Correctional Facility and remains in custody awaiting a future court appearance.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
