JAMESBURG, NJ—A 49-year old Jamesburg Borough Councilman is facing possession of cocaine charges, and several traffic violations, after crashing into a parked vehicle on July 7. 

Thomas Busco, who is also a member of the Borough Council’s Police Committee, was “unresponsive” as he rear-ended a legally parked Hyundai Genesis on Buckelew Avenue, according to the crash report.

Busco was allegedly found with the drug in his 2010 blue Ford F-150 pickup truck.

The accident occurred during Friday rush hour at 5:43 PM.  Busco’s vehicle was then towed and impounded, according to the report.

The complaint states Busco was driving under the influence.  He was given a blood test for controlled dangerous substances, the result of which is listed as “pending” in the report.

Police officers discovered the white powder in a plastic wrap in the front seat of the car, and Busco admitted it was cocaine, according to Officer Jim Dennis, who signed the criminal complaint filed with the Middlesex County Superior Court.

Busco is now facing a slew of charges, including: third-degree cocaine possession, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, and careless driving.

The third-degree charge means that police believe Busco was in possession of half an ounce of cocaine, or less.

Busco’s close relative passed away nine months before the incident, according to an online obituary. Richard Busco, 52 years old at the time, succumbed to a long illness in his home on September 21, 2016. 

Thomas Busco was absent from the Council meeting that took place the same day, according to meeting minutes. He thanked the Jamesburg Borough community for their support in a subsequent meeting on October 19, 2016. 

“Council Member Busco sent out a huge thank you to everyone who sent fruit baskets, etc. to his home while his family is going through a rough time,” the minutes state.

Busco is a Democrat who serves as the representative to the Middlesex County Housing and Community Development Program Committee and the Shelter Coordinator on the Middesex County Emergency Management Council, according to meeting minutes from 2017.

He joined the Borough Council on Jan. 1, 2010.  His current term expires in December 2018, according to the Jamesburg Borough website.

Busco ran his first campaign in 2009 with a promise to reduce state mandates.

“Our taxpayers should not have to fund the state’s priorities,” Busco told GM News, “but rather pay only for those services that directly benefit them.”

The complaint listed a court date scheduled for August 3 at 8:30 PM, but the Middlesex County Criminal Division Manager’s Office indicated the case was not yet in their system.