By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to the Kmart on Middlesex Ave. on reports that a suspicious person had concealed a watch inside a duffel bag.

Upon arrival, the officers met with store loss prevention personnel and were told that the suspect, later identified as William Nelson, had paid for the merchandise.

The officers were also told that Nelson may be in possession of a cutting tool. The security staff was instructed to continue monitoring Nelson via the closed circuit video system.

Through the video system, Nelson was reportedly observed in the Kmart parking lot, stepping in and out of a parked car and walking to the rear compartment, where it appeared as if he was placing clothing inside of a duffel bag.

Nelson was then reportedly observed sitting in the drivers side of the car, going through motions that appeared to the officers to be injecting himself in the arm with narcotics.

The officers called in for backup, and when it arrived they converged on Nelson’s car and ordered him to step out.

Nelson was then ordered to place his hands on the vehicle to prevent any access to a syringe. He then reportedly attempted to access his right pants pocket.

Police reportedly located a syringe on the floor, in front of the driver’s seat of the vehicle. The syringe appeared to contain a brown liquid substance.

Upon questioning, Nelson reportedly admitted that he was in possession of heroin and that he was in the process of injecting himself before he was detained by police. He was subsequently placed under arrest and charged with possession of a class A drug and additionally booked on various warrant charges.