MENDHAM TOWNSHIP — David Levey, the Chester native who won the sixth season of "Hell's Kitchen" in 2009, was arrested on a drug charge last month during a traffic stop that later led to the seizure of heroin, hypodermic needles, prescription drugs and other paraphernalia, police said.

Mendham Township police said in a news release Friday that Sgt. Matthew Ambrosi pulled over a car driven by Nancy Vanwoert, 46, of Wayne on Ironia Road on Aug. 19 for failing to properly signal a turn.

While speaking with Vanwoert, Ambrosi became suspicious that she was under the influence of a narcotic, police said.

Levey, 37, of Chester was the backseat passenger in the vehicle at the time and also appeared to be under the influence of a narcotic analgesic, police said.

Shane Hawkins, 26, of Stanhope was also in the car at the time, police said.

Ambrosi asked Vanwoert for permission to search her car, but she refused, police said. When Ambrosi told her the car would be impounded and police would apply for a search warrant, she asked if she could take out two bags, and consented to those being searched, police said.

In the bags were a prescription bottle containing Klonapin and Clonazepam, for which no one in the car had prescriptions, a mirror with an unknown white powder, and multiple bundles of cash totaling $4,070, police said.

Ambrosi also found a ledger book with what appeared to be details of illegal narcotic sales, police said. It listed buyers, and how much had been paid or was owed to Vanwoert, police said. Vanwoert was placed under arrest for the alleged possession of the prescription pills and the white powder believed to be a controlled dangerous substance, police said.

Vanwoert was charged with possession of a prescription legend drug of four doses or less, possession of a prescription ledger drug not in a proper container, failure to signal a turn, failure to produce an insurance card, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle, police said.

Levey was also arrested and charged with being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, police said. He was later released on bail pending a court hearing, police said.

Hawkins was not arrested at the time, but was transported back to police headquarters since the vehicle was impounded pending a search warrant, police said. Hawkins and Vanwoert were also released, police said.

Mendham Township Police Lt. Ross Johnson told NJ.com Saturday Levey had identified himself during his arrest as one of the winners of "Hell's Kitchen." Officers confirmed Levey's claim after viewing online photos of the "Hell's Kitchen" winner, Johnson said.

Levey was awarded a head chef position at Araxi Restaurant in Whistler, British Columbia after winning "Hell's Kitchen" in 2009, but he returned to Morris County later that year, The Star-Ledger previously reported.

Joe Lubrano, whose family owns Provesi Ristoranté in Morristown and the Publick House Tavern and Inn in Chester Borough, told the newspaper at the time that Levey was returning to Il Giardino '86 in Cedar Knolls.

Il Giardiano was still operating as of 2013, but the restaurant has since closed. This past March, the restaurant transferred its liquor license to H2 Ocean, which operates at the same location on Ridgedale Avenue, according to Hanover Township committee meeting minutes.

Calls and messages placed to Lubrano Saturday have not yet been returned.

On Aug. 20, township police obtained a warrant to search the vehicle Vanwoert was driving and found:

• 75 full folds of heroin

• 36 folds with residue

• 10 uncapped used hypodermic needles with heroin residue

• 24 capped needles with heroin residue

• 9 white round pills labeled "54 142," a schedule II CDS

• 4 green round pills labeled "Mylan 477," a schedule IV CDS

• Drug paraphernalia

In a coffee mug with a false bottom, police say, they also found:

• 18 baggies of a white powder suspected to be cocaine

• 2 small baggies containing gray rock-like substance, suspected to be a schedule I CDS

• 3 small baggies and 14 clear capsules filled with a brown chunky substance, suspected to be a schedule I CDS

• 6 round white pills labeled "155/activas logo," a schedule III CDS

• 4 small round white pills 2 of them labeled "2/arrow" and the other 2 labeled "8/arrow," a schedule III CDS.

In all, police collected $10,817 in cash from the car as well, police said. The 1998 Honda is being held for possible forfeiture, police said.

Both Vanwoert and Hawkins remain at large, police said. A $100,000 warrant has been issued for Vanwoert and a $75,000 warrant has been issued for Hawkins, police said.

Police are asking anyone with information about the two to contact the police department, which can be reached at 973-543-2581.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

