Altercation In Greenwich Hotel Leads To Narcotics Arrest: PD

GREENWICH, CT — Two people were arrested on a host of narcotics charges Tuesday morning at the Greenwich Hyatt on East Putnam Avenue after police were called to the scene about a physical altercation, and officers subsequently found a plethora of drugs allegedly in their possession.

The incident occurred at about 10:45 a.m. when officers were called to adjoining rooms at the hotel about an altercation and found "numerous amounts of narcotics and drug paraphernalia in plain view strewn around" the rooms.

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Taken into custody were Melanie Arias, 22, of Brooklyn, NY, and Alexander Edell, 36, of Cos Cob.

"Arias was found to be in possession of Marijuana, Xanax and Ketamine within her purse," wrote Greenwich police in a statement. "While handcuffed, Arias lunged her body at narcotics that officers were about to take pictures of for evidential purposes. She began to ingest an unknown amount of narcotics. Officers had to remove her from the narcotics and verbally advised her to spit them out of her mouth to which she eventually complied with."

Edell was accused of assault and preventing an emergency call, and he allegedly broke down a door that separated the adjoining rooms.

Both charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and additional narcotics offenses, and Arias was also charged with tampering with physical evidence, and resisting arrest.

Edell was additionally charged operating a drug factory, illegal manufacturing, distribution and sale of prescription drugs, first-degree criminal mischief, third-degree assault, and interfering with an emergency call.

Neither Arias ($500) nor Edell ($500,000) could post bond on their bails, and are scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on Aug. 15.

Photo: Melanie Arias, left, and Alexander Edell. Photo credit: Greenwich Police Department