UPDATE: Mother Arrested as Well; Fairfield Officers High and Lagan Uncover Nell Court Marijuana Grow Operation

by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com
Published 10:30pm

Timothy Olster Credit: Fairfield Police

Jose Sanchez Credit: Fairfield Police

Donna Olster Credit: Fairfield Police

UPDATE
FAIRFIELD, NJ - Fairfield Police announced that on Wednesday, Aug. 3, another arrest was made in the Nell Court marijuana home growing business.

Donna Olster, 68, also a resident of the home, and mother to Timothy Olster, 40, was arrested and charged with the following: 

• ​possession of over 50 grams of marijuana
• possession of 10-49 marijuana plants
• maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance facility
• possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
• conspiracy to distribute marijuana
• possession of drug paraphernalia
  
  

Olster was out of the state at the time the police re-entered the home with a search warrant. She has been processed and jailed at the Essex County Correctional Facility in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Olster's initial court appearance in the Superior Court in Essex County was yesterday, Thursday, Aug. 11.

---

The original story was published on July 31, 2016:

FAIRFIELD, NJ  - Tonight, Fairfield Police Chief Anthony G. Manna announced that the department arrested Timothy Olster, 40, of Fairfield and Jose Sanchez, 30, of Dover (but residing in Fairfield) on drug charges earlier today. 

At about 8:18am this morning, Fairfield Police went to the scene of a Nell Court residence to investigate reports of a dispute. The first to arrive, Officers James High Jr. and David Lagan met with Sanchez who alledged that his nose had been injured after Olster hit him. 

Both officers then observed a 2013 GMC sport utility vehicle at the residence which had a smashed driver side window. They determined that the SUV belonged to Olster and that Sanchez reportedly had caused the damage with a brick. 

High and Lagan continued to investigate the scene and reportedly discovered what appeared to be residue from marijuana along with packaging in Olster’s bedroom, along with marijuana plants being automatically watered in the laundry room. 

Continuing to walk through the property, both officers then found what they reported to be six-foot high marijuana plants growing in the rear yard near the pool. ​

Credit: Fairfield Police

Credit: Fairfield Police

Olster and Sanchez were placed under arrest and were charged with the following: 

• possession of over 50 grams of marijuana
  
• possession of 10-49 marijuana plants
  
• maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance facility
  
• possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
  
• conspiracy to distribute marijuana
  
• possession of drug paraphernalia

The officers secured the property and obtained a search warrant.

At about 3:30pm, a K-9 unit from the Essex County Sheriff’s Department returned with Fairfield Police and reportedly found a marijuana growing operation throughout the residence. 

"The windows to the basement were covered and a
'hot box' tent was set up that contained timed lighting for the plants," commented Chief Manna.
"In addition, the officers allegedly found various fertilizers and liquids
to enhance plant growth, small soil pods for seedlings,
a number of Tupperware containers with dried marijuana in them, packaging material and a number of small marijuana plants.

They even allegedly found one marijuana plant
​in a pot on a shelf above the kitchen sink."

​Due to the original dispute which caused Fairfield Police to investigate the residence to begin with, Olster was also charged with simple assault in addition to the narcotics related charges, and Sanchez was also charged with criminal mischief.

According to Manna, the department is anticipating making one more arrest relating to the marijuana grow operation as their investigation continues. 

As of tonight, both Olster and Sanchez are being held at the Fairfield Police Department pending bail being set. They are scheduled to make an initial appearance in the Superior Court in Newark on Aug. 11. 

​Further Information
Fairfield Police Department
Chief Anthony Manna
230 Fairfield Road
Fairfield, NJ 07004
973-227-1400
Website

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