January 24, 2015
Three arrested in city drug bust
Police arrested three city residents after finding drugs and a weapon in one home and drugs in another Thursday afternoon, according to the city police department.
Christopher A. Rivera, 27, and Christopher Quinnonez, 24, both of 146 Tompkins St., have been charged with four counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, felonies. They also were charged with three counts of second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation.
Officers from the city police department and the Cortland County Drug Task Force entered the residence around 3 p.m. Thursday to find 12 grams of cocaine, 34 grams of heroin, 20.7 grams of MDMA, 497 oxycodone pills, scales, and packaging material used in selling narcotics. They also found a Ruger .380 semiautomatic pistol with its serial number scratched off and $1,325 in cash, the city police department said.
At the same time, police also executed a warrant at 6 1/2 Park St., Building 3, Apt. 22 where they arrested Estafania C. Coba Castro, 22. They found scales and a small amount of marijuana in Estafania’s apartment, police said. Castro was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation.
City police Lt. Richard Troyer declined to comment on how police learned about Rivera, Quinnonez and Castro. He also declined to say if police think Castro bought marijuana from Rivera and Quinnonez.
“It was just a drug case that involved two different locations,” Troyer said.
He said he could not comment on where police think Rivera and Quinnonez got the drugs that were found in their residence. Troyer said he was not sure if police would make more arrests in the case but said they will continue to investigate the matter.
Rivera and Quinnonez were awaiting arraignment in City Court on Friday afternoon. Castro was released and is due back in City Court on Feb. 9.
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