TOTOWA — As a state trooper loaded up his personal car in the parking lot of the police barracks to prepare for his overnight shift Tuesday, he caught a whiff of something.

Two cars away he spotted three men sitting in a parked car, smoking marijuana – who were then arrested and taken across the parking lot and into the barracks, state police said.

A fourth man who was attempting to pick up an impounded car – who his friends were waiting for – was also arrested and charged.

All four were charged with marijuana and Ecstasy possession, said Lt. Stephen Jones: Tamer Abdelrahim, a 22 year old from Woodland Park; and Isaias Parrilla, 22, Hensly Nunez, 21, and Bernardo Cuevas, 23, all of Paterson.

Trooper Erik Tapia had been preparing for his overnight shift, Jones said. But as he was loading up his personal car in the barracks parking lot, he smelled marijuana. As he approached a 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, he saw bags of marijuana inside a brown container inside the car – some of which were falling out of one of the passenger’s pockets as he approached, Jones said.

Tamer Abdelrahim, of Woodland Park, and Hensly Nunez of Paterson were both allegedly smoking marijuana in the car when the state trooper approached the car, authorities say.

The trooper radioed back into the barracks for assistance, and several other troopers came out into the parking lot. After a search of the car and a space under the dashboard, the troopers found a total of 15 small Ziploc bags of marijuana, and 14 Ecstasy tabs, Jones said.

Cuevas, who had been attempting to pick up an impounded car at the barracks, was also arrested.

Cuevas and Parrilla also had warrants out for the arrest – in Paterson and Totowa, respectively. They were transported to those police departments. Abdelrahim and Nunez were released on their own recognizance, Jones said.

“I will say this: They didn't make the brightest decision on where to smoke their pot,” Jones said.

MORE PASSAIC COUNTY NEWS