Nicholas D. Cermak, 19, Kaukauna, was charged with felony possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and obstructing an officer.
At approximately 9 p.m. Saturday, July 27, New London Police Officer Ryan Denu stopped a vehicle with three occupants in it near the intersection of Wolf River Avenue and Smith Street, because its headlight was out.
The driver identified himself as Samuel J. Anderson, 19, Appleton, and one of the passengers identified himself as Ellis Baehman, according to the criminal complaint.
Denu became suspicious because Baehman had no identification and the birth date he gave did not match state records.
A Waupaca County canine arrived at the scene, walked around the vehicle and alerted officers to the presence of drugs.
Police subsequently found a marijuana grinder and a mason jar with 22 grams of marijuana in the car.
The other passenger told police the man claiming to be Baehman was actually Nick Cermak, and the marijuana belonged to Cermak.
When Denu told Anderson he knew Baehman was actually Cermak, Anderson allegedly replied the officer was wrong and that he had known Baehman for a long time.
Anderson has since been charged with aiding a felon and obstructing an officer.
At the time of his arrest, Cermak had two outstanding warrants and was on probation for a pot conviction in Outagamie County.
When Denu asked Cormak why he lied, Cormak replied that it worked in the past with other agencies, according to the criminal complaint.
Denu reviewed the squad car’s camera footage and listened to a conversation between Anderson and Cermak.
In the recorded conversation, Cermak says if the cops find out his real name, he could go to jail. He asks Anderson to take the charges, because Anderson would only be fined, while Cermak would be in more trouble because he is a repeater. He also offers to pay Anderson’s fine, the complaint says.