A private security contractor assigned to the George Washington Bridge is accused of smoking pot on the job.
The Port Authority tells Fox 5 News that at about 2 p.m. on Wednesday Port Authority police officers were patrolling the bridge and went to check on the security guard booth at the base of the bridge.
The officers smelled what they believed to be marijuana smoke. When they asked the FJC security guard what it was, he allegedly told them that it was a skunk and that's why he was spraying air freshener in the booth.
The Port Authority says that when the officer searched the booth, they found a small bag of marijuana and a large, half-smoked marijuana cigarette.
The guard, identified as Sami Omar of North Bergen, was arrested and charged with drug possession and being under the influence of a controlled substance.
Authorities say that Omar had access to restricted areas of the bridge to be on the lookout for potential terror attacks at the base of the bridge.
The guard posts on both sides of the bride were created after intelligence reports revealed that terrorists were looking at the bridge as a possible target.
The Port Authority says Omar's alleged actions are intolerable and that he will not be allowed at any Port Authority facility again but it's up to the private security company to fire him.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:44 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:44:03 GMT
The unofficial start of summer is being met with not-so-perfect beach weather. Many beach communities had been hoping for good weather this Memorial Day weekend following the destruction caused by Superstorm Sandy.
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Friday, May 24 2013 9:34 PM EDT2013-05-25 01:34:31 GMT
Actress Amanda Bynes was arrested by New York City police after investigating a report of her allegedly smoking marijuana in the lobby of her Midtown Manhattan building.
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Friday, May 24 2013 9:15 PM EDT2013-05-25 01:15:35 GMT
When workers installed one of the much-heralded bike-sharing stations on West 22nd Street near 10th Avenue, they put it right in front of the brownstones.
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Friday, May 24 2013 6:09 PM EDT2013-05-24 22:09:59 GMT
New York State has 17,000 highway bridges. There are some bad ones. The Tappan Zee Bridge, for example, is set to be replaced because of aging infrastructure.
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Friday, May 24 2013 5:33 PM EDT2013-05-24 21:33:47 GMT
New Jersey Transit bus riders will soon have a new way to get across the Hudson River: by boat. The agency is partnering with New York Waterways, which will provide ferry service to customers. The
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Friday, May 24 2013 3:29 PM EDT2013-05-24 19:29:58 GMT
The National Park Service is ending unpaid leave for U.S. Park Police officers earlier than expected. National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis said the furloughs will end on June 3, after just
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Friday, May 24 2013 1:25 PM EDT2013-05-24 17:25:15 GMT
The engineer of the commuter train that derailed last week in Connecticut observed an "unusual condition" on the track before the wreck, federal officials said Friday.
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Thursday, May 23 2013 10:04 PM EDT2013-05-24 02:04:45 GMT
Former Rep. Anthony Weiner launched his campaign for mayor of New York City this week, but his website seems to indicate he is running for office in Pittsburgh. The stylized and colorized image used in
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