Paramus Police: Copper Thief Hides Under Car, Eats Heroin During Arrest

PARAMUS, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - Two New Jersey men face a variety of charges after allegedly ripping off a storage lot.

At around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, Robert Kwiatkowski, of Wayne, and Michael Pelissier, of Hackensack, were spotted driving away from an AT&T storage lot behind the Petco store along Route 17 north, Paramus police said.

The officer that spotted them ran the license plate of the pickup truck they were driving. The license plate belonged to another vehicle, police said.

Police said the two men tried to run away after they were pulled over. Kwiatkowski was quickly arrested. Pelissier was found a nearby hiding under a car, police said.

The truck with the incorrect plates had been stolen from a lot in Rochelle Park a week prior, police said. Spools of copper wire and various tools were found in the truck, police said.

Officers spotted several bundles of heroin and hypodermic needles, according to police.

Pelissier then told police he had just eaten 30 bags of heroin. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, police said.

Both men are being held on $5,000 bail. They face possession of stolen property, heroin, and drugs charges. More charges are expected.

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