Newark – Despite the overwhelming presence of electronic and print media at Veterans Courthouse as a jury deliberates the fate of Basim Henry, one of four accused suspects in the carjacking and murder of Dustin Friedland at the Short Hills Mall on December 15, 2013, two Atlantic County men were taken into custody today for smoking marijuana in Rosa Parks Plaza which is adjacent to the courthouse.
“As print reporters and television news cameras awaited a verdict this morning in the plaza,” Sheriff Fontoura said, “our exterior patrol officers detected the distinct aroma of burnt marijuana at that location.
William Snowden, 31 of Atlantic City, and Al-Terrie Turner, 48 of Ventnor, were observed sitting on one of the plaza benches casually sharing a marijuana cigarette.”
In placing the two men under arrest, Sheriff Fontoura said that the sheriff’s officers noticed a large bulge in Snowden’s waistband.
“A search of Snowden yielded 39 zip-lock bags of marijuana,” Fontoura added. “The two suspects who arrived at the Essex County courthouse to provide moral support for a female friend who was on trial for another matter apparently demonstrated total disrespect for our entire criminal justice system.
How they thought they could smoke pot in such a public and well-secured venue as this is beyond comprehension.”
Snowden was charged with possession of CDS. He was also found to be wanted on two Atlantic County warrants for narcotics and aggravated assault.
Turner was found to be the subject of an Atlantic County warrant for theft.
Both suspects were lodged at the county jail.