Waldwick Man Arrested For DWI Was Carrying 30 Bags of Heroin, Cops Say

A Waldwick man arrested for driving while intoxicated in Wyckoff was discovered to have 30 bags of heroin in his pocket, according to police.

The driver, Patrick Leonard, 31, was spotted by Patrolman Kevin Kasak driving erratically on Franklin Avenue at 11:40 p.m. on May 13, reported Thursday. 

Kasak pulled over Leonard and arrested the Waldwick man for DWI. 

After the Waldwick man was arrested, cops found 30 small packets of heroin in Leonard's pocket, according to Wyckoff Police Chief Benjamin Fox.

The street value of the heroin totaled about $300 dollars, according to Fox.

Leonard was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, possession of narcotics in a motor vehicle, failure to keep to the right and possession of heroin.

Fox said Thursday that he's seen a "marked increase" in heroin use in Northern New Jersey, even among teens.

"Heroin use is a huge problem and growing in this area," Fox said. "High school kids are doing it with much more frequency."

People addicted to prescription pain killers often move to heroin, both of which produce a similar high, Fox explained.

"The price is why they start doing heroin," Fox said. "An Oxycontin pill goes for $50 to $80 on the street. You can get a small deck of heroin for $5-$10."

Leonard was released to a family member, and narcotics charges will be referred to Bergen County Superior Court, police said.

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