On February 20th, 2024, the Guttenberg Police Department received numerous complaints regarding a male at the corner of 68th Street and Broadway, who was reported to have been throwing a white powdery substance into the roadway and reported to be in possession of a large artwork causing concern, all during the time of a local school dismissal. Upon initial response, officers spoke with the male, gathered information, and then left the scene to review CCTV surveillance camera footage to confirm the initial reports. The Guttenberg Police Department then received a few additional calls regarding the same male. Through their investigation, Officers and Detectives uncovered that 37-year-old Andrew B. Brand, of Guttenberg, NJ, was walking in and out of the street, throwing a white powdery substance into the air near oncoming vehicles, and snorting/rubbing the white powdery substance on his face, imitating the use of a controlled dangerous substance, cocaine. He was also observed snorting the white powdery substance from an artwork depicting the words “Cocaine Sold Here 19 Arrests 7 Months”. Mr. Brand was also found to be in possession of a clear plastic bag containing a significant amount of a white powdery substance, believed to be flour, to imitate the possession of cocaine.
Accordingly, Mr. Brand was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct [2C:33-2A] and the possession of an imitation controlled dangerous substance [2C:35-11B]. Mr. Brand was then transported to the Guttenberg Police Department for his arrest processing. Upon the completion of his arrest processing, Mr. Brand was issued his complaint summons and then transported to the Hoboken University Medical Center for a medical evaluation.
The charges above are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty in a court of law