Edison Mayor Thomas Lankey is among the latest of local and national politicians dealing with a child battling a drug problem. Heroin addiction is real and it is prevalent in New Jersey. Despite popular belief, heroin is no longer a drug that is regimented to the inner city areas. In fact, heroin is abundant in the suburbs and is affecting middle class and affluent families. This latest incident may help shed light on the heroin and drug problems affecting Middlesex County and New Jersey.

Kyle Lankey, the son of the mayor, was arrested this past Monday night after police officers responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle idling in front of a house.  Policed arrived and found him unconscious behind the wheel of his car on the house’s front lawn. An investigation and subsequent search of the vehicle turned up heroin, pills, and a small amount of marijuana in his possession, according to reports.

Among the most serious of charges, was one count of possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute based on the fact that police allegedly found 200 packets of heroin and about $400 in cash. He was arrested and taken into custody and later released on $25,000 bail. The bail was set by the Dennis Fackelman, the Piscataway Municipal Court Judge to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest because the defendant’s father is Mayor of Edison and is therefore responsible for appointing judges in Edison Municipal Court. The amount of heroin allegedly seized, is most likely indicative of a third degree indictable crime which is punishable by 3 – 5 years in state prison. Moreover, these charges will most likely be handled in the Middlesex County Superior Court in New Brunswick.