another great job guys!! Thanks

WOW!!!!! HE MUST HAVE BEEN HUNGRY!!!!

do the police always stop bikes riding against the flow? just wonderin'?

harriet, Isn't it a good thing that they did.......perhaps they noticed his suspecious actions?? What are you complaining about? They are doing their jobs, honey!!

@Nancy - HONEY - do you troll this site just to put down anyone who make a comment?

I was always taught to ride against the flow of traffic so you could she what was coming at you.

Sad story for anyone who knows this man, his family, and what he's been through.

Exactly, Pal/Riv/Cinn. It's a horribly sad story, and I hope "Boo Radley" never has anything so awful happen in his or her own life. There but for the grace of God go we all.

@Long time resident, I was taught to ride against the traffic also, see who is coming at u so not to get hit, laws must have changed!!!!! wooowww...

sad... he's been through a lot in the past few years.

Just because he's been through a lot doesn't give him an excuse to use drugs. If everyone who had a tough life or had horrible things happen to them used drugs as an outlet every person in the world would be like him. People need to take responsibility for their own lives.

they only noticed him riding against the flow of traffic...becuase they know who he is.....trust me! i always stand behind cops and what they do....but really..they stopped him for going against the flow...i don't think so....go after the real criminals...the rapists, pedophiles, gang members, murderers. and yes this kid has been through a lot, yes he should take responsibility...but please these cops should leave him alone...hes got a heart of gold....he was not dealing drugs....shame on the cinnaminson cops, particulary this one.

Mompf3boys: It's none of your business.
ANicole: It must be awesome being perfect.
justanothermom: You're so right about the heart of gold (also it was a Pal cop not a Cinn cop)
Addiction is a disease. While doing drugs or drinking is a choice (and one I think lots of people in his position would make - ever heard of self-medicating?), getting and staying addicted is not. People can't help it and usually need serious and intensive treatment to stop. Let's all quit the judging and snarking, climb off our high horses, and have some freaking COMPASSION for our fellow human beings.

Last time I checked, being in possession of drugs is a crime. I don't care what he's "been through". Getting drugs off of our streets is a GOOD thing!

Everyone on this site has had a family member or a friend who has experienced some sort of suffering and has used drugs or alcohol to help cope with their pain. NO ONE is perfect. Could any of you imagine what it would be like to find your twin brother dead? Then lose your father 3 months later? What has happened is absolutely no excuse for the use of drugs and alcohol. People live in a world of addiction whether it is drugs, alcohol, food, sex, gambling, and so forth. Everyone has a weakness and by judging what has happened, it's only because of your own insecurities. This was a blessing in disguise to help another young man get the help he needs before addiction takes his life away. If anyone has anything to say about it...do the family a favor and take a look at your own lives and your own families and friends. And then wonder who it's going to happen to next. When it affects your life and someone you love I hope there are as many people judging your ingnorant ass as you are judging someone else's life that you have no idea about. Matt is a loving caring man who needs help from himself and loved ones to move forward. He has so much to offer to the ones who really know him. There's no excuse for his actions and what he did but atleast he will have an oppertunity to get the help he needs. And his family will stand by him through thick and thin because that is what family is about.

Also, Christina Paciolla should be ashamed of herself for putting this on the Patch site. Ashamed. Regular news outlets didn't cover it. Why embarrass someone further who is already dealing with the fallout of an arrest and charges?

I know an internet news site must put out articles 24/7 to keep the site afloat. But with the current scandal in Cinnaminson and Patch breaking it wouldn't the site be put to better use by following up on the $100,000 theft over at CSA and who oversaw the super over there. There's been nothing, not even comments from the board or mayor. More stories on that would serve the town better.

And it would be great to put photos of the super in there and asst super since the 28-year old part timer had his photo plastered all over the site.

LOL! My last comment was deleted! Glad to see you took my spelling advice, though. Could have at least given me some credit.

Um, let's not "get back on" the topic. Encouraging people to discuss a young man's misfortune is classless. Let's let the comments die here.

Thanks for the offer but seems to me private emails can just as easily be answered on the comment boards for everyone to read. And, when it comes to a crime of this degree (for a small town), some of us would rather hear from the "head" of the committee not a spokesman. And, I agree, WWW, let's not get back on topic. How about an investigative article on who DEALS the drugs in the tri-boro. There are among us right here in our towns; I'm sure names can be named. There's a story to benefit the whole area.

Thank you for posting this article, Its your job as a reporter to be objective. Obviously these commentor's have a connection with the one arrested and are biased. Drugs are a problem and affect many people and families. Still doesn't mean he didn't break the law. I'm so tired of people making excuses about addiction. Man-up and get some help or sober up. He's almost 30 years old, be a man and become an asset to this community and you won't have to worry about being the topic of a Patch article.With all the help and resources in the world today there is no excuse.

Thank you for pointing that out, I agree on the message board. But you know in this new age of social media everyone has an opinion whether we like it or not. As for Rehab, Drugs had an affect on my life because of people in my family so I have been there. I still have no sympathy, I know thats cold and many people don't agree but that is how I feel. When you reach a certain age you need to grow up. Stop riding your bike arond town, get a job, get a car, and become a positive asset to this community. I know this is an extreme example but sometimes people sugar coat everything. I think its good this stuff is posted, maybe not just this person but everyone who gets arrested will be embarresed enough to think twice.

And, Bill D, our interaction right here is how you can have a discussion about a drug arrest, addiction and all the rest without attacking the person about whom the article is written especially in a small town where it touches families, friends. That's what makes Patch different; it is a community paper. Take care Bill D.

I just want to applaud you for your fine reporting skills. I think it's ironic that when you post a story of someone outside of this community, no one has a problem with it, in fact the respond with all sorts of negativity regarding the arrested person. Well-that person has a family as well, and perhaps a terrible past to endure.(however not within this community). I assume that if you knew him personally you would have passed it to another editor like you said and that is equivocally the act of an excellent editor. The police did an excellent job as well- called "their job". Hope this man gets the help he needs, seems he has many that love him here on patch alone.

consistent with other comments... the people that don’t understand addiction hopefully will not have to live thru it.

but if you do have someone in your life that is experiencing a similar situation, hopefully you will get a better understanding... what happened was obviously against the law, but terrible events in someone’s life can lead to addiction... it may seem like a choice at first, but eventually it controls you.... it’s much easier said than done to say get a car and a job and become a model citizen.

good people sometime make bad choices, this obviously was a bad one. but the previous posters were correct.... the police (although doing their job) did know who this was, and used the law in a biased way (in other words they wouldn’t pull over your grandmother for the same offense)... and the truth is, there is 3 or 4 total loser drug dealers from Palmyra that the police should really focus on. these punks have been peddling the problem for years... and although in the end its up the individual to say no, the people offering these drugs are the ones that truly need to be stopped.
the difference being that they are harming others vs. someone who is unfortunately harming themselves.

@Christina - at first i was upset when i saw this article, but the truth is, its your job. i think the headline of the article is what made this story eye catching but in the end i don’t think anyone should hold ill will towards you.

Sadly I have personal experience with this. I have 2 family members who have battled addiction. One is still fighting it, the other lost her battle and died as a result. I know it sounds cliche but sometimes and addict MUST hit rock bottom before they can pull themselves up again. This may be just the rock bottom moment this person needs. Sometimes shining a light on the veil or secrecy that hides addiction is the best wake up call. I pray for him and his family.

Please think of this in a different light. If this young man went through not one but two family tragedies as someone mentioned (and it is not our business) or suffered abuse or lost a comrade in war and could not deal with the tragedy and took his own life, all of us here would feel sad or disheartened that this person was in so much pain they could not bear it. But, they were unable to take that last step and, instead, resorted to whatever to dull the pain. In essence a slower way. Why wouldn't we feel the same sadness or pain just because it wasn't immediate. Although the personal attacks have no place on this board or any other when dealing with addiction, this story, although not the original intent, helped open a dialogue about the real problem in our area. And, those who know these dealers and where they sell need to call that tipline so the police can get the sellers of death of our streets.

Gertrude,
Agreed, We all have our own opinions on substance abuse, Some believe in tough love some believe in treatment. Who know's who is right. But your point is correct. It raised awareness, TommCinn points to the dealers, you are correct, they need to go first, but its like any business, supply and demand. Without buyers there are no sellers.

i think people fail to realize that family tragedy, war, even something as simple as a car accident all can lead a person down a wrong path, and in some case making a single bad decision that gets you hooked. the problem is once they are down that path addiction takes control, its not a matter of.... clean up your act son, get a job... etc etc.... being naive to issues like addiction just make the matters worse because those people want to attack the person or action, rather than the root cause.

does everyone actually want to help these people or do you just want to write them off? if your mother got in a car accident, and had extreme pain, then got hooked on pain pills (stuff like that does happen) would you be as judgmental? answer is clear, you wouldn’t

@Gertrude - the dealers aren’t who/what you think.... they are people you know, work with, even coaching your kids.... people aren’t buying drugs on the street corner. they are going to people’s houses and getting them in a private setting.

A quick Google search shows that Christina graduated from the same high school in the same year as the subject of this article. Just an FYI for those of you who are saying you're sure she'd have passed it off to someone else if she knew him personally. That's my biggest issue with this. I'm sure there are several crimes on the blotter per day in the town of Cinnaminson. As editor, Christina chooses which crimes she wants to feature on Patch and which she'll ignore. Nobody is holding her to task to write about these minor crimes the way people are about the sewerage authority scandal. So she saw this story on the blotter, recognized the name as an old classmate, and opted to publish it anyway. I wouldn't have made the same choice, but to each her own I guess. It's definitely upping the page views for Cinnaminson Patch, so if that was the goal, then mission accomplished.

Comments have been shut down on this article.

Those of you who wish to contact me, the editor, you may e-mail christina.paciolla@patch.com and I will get back to you as soon as I can.