Nassau County police closed a portion of the Long Island Expressway’s North Service Road for two hours Tuesday while investigating a suspicious backpack left on the side of the road, which was found to have one pound of marijuana inside.
Police said a witness observed the unattended backpack and notified them around 4 p.m.
A portion of the service road west of Exit 37 on the LIE was closed, police said, while the Arson Bomb Squad investigated the backpack.
Police said once it was discovered the backpack was safe, they opened the bag and found one pound of marijuana and one ounce of hashish inside.
During the investigation, police said, the Arson Bomb Squad found that the backpack belonged to Roslyn Heights resident Jason Liarkos.
Liarkos, 19, was placed under arrest at his home at 6:35 p.m. without incident, police said.
He is charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree criminal possession of marijuana.
Liarkos will be arraigned Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead.
