5 Arrested, Had Codeine-Mixed Drinks In Vehicle: Greenwich PD

GREENWICH, CT — Five men were arrested over the weekend after officers stopped their vehicle and found them drinking cups of codeine and soda mixtures, police said. Officers stopped the vehicle on East Putnam Avenue for speeding around 11 p.m. on Saturday, according to an arrest report.

As soon as the vehicle stopped and the driver's side window was opened, a "thick cloud" of suspected marijuana smoke emitted from the vehicle, police said.

The driver was identified as Leonel Cuevas, 23, of Bronx, N.Y. Police said the accused's speech was slurred and his responses to questions were delayed while speaking with officers.

Officers searched the vehicle and found several types of narcotics, including marijuana and bottles of codeine that were not medically prescribed to any of the men, police said.

Police said all five men exited the vehicle holding a paper coffee cup containing "a bright green substance" suspected of being a mixed drink of soda and codeine cough syrup. The five men were subsequently arrested on various charges.

Cuevas was charged with driving while under the influence after he did not perform sobriety tests to standard, police said. He was also charged with possession of narcotics and traveling unreasonably fast.

While searching the vehicle, officers also located a backpack belonging to Leudy Reyes, 29, of Bronx, N.Y. The backpack contained suspected marijuana packaged in individual bags, as well as Promethazine cough syrup and Oxycodone pills, both of which were not medically prescribed to the accused, police said.

Reyes was charged with possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and operating a drug factory.

Joel Mora, 19, of Bronx, N.Y., was charged with possession of narcotics and possession of less than half an ounce of marijuana.

Jose Cruz, 23, of Bronx, N.Y., was charged with possession of narcotics.

Fredderin Santos-Pena, 19, of Patterson, N.J., was also charged with possession of narcotics.