Slumped Over Driver Arrested on Drug Dealing, Other Charges in Salem

SALEM, NH — A local man was arrested on Sunday morning, arraigned yesterday morning, and held on $10,000 cash bail, after allegedly being found with numerous drugs while slumped over inside of his running vehicle, according to police. Alexander Ruggiero, 26, of Sandown, was arrested on Jan. 8, 2017, on three counts of possession of a controlled drug-cocaine, heroin, pills, two counts of possession of a controlled drug, cocaine, heroin, with intent to distribute, and transporting drugs in a motor vehicle.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Salem Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for NH Patch police reports.

Police were called to the IHOP restaurant on South Broadway at around 11 a.m. on Sunday for a report of a man in the parking lot slumped over the steering wheel of a vehicle, according to Capt. Joel Dolan of the Salem Police Department.

“Responding officers located the vehicle, which was running, and observed the male in the driver’s seat slumped over the wheel,” Dolan alleged. “Officers could see a $100 bill and brown powder on the male’s lap.”

Dolan stated that the officers were able to wake up the man – later identified as Ruggiero – and he reportedly stated that he suffered from insomnia and must have fallen asleep on his way to get some breakfast.

“As the officers continued their investigation, they were able to see several clear plastic baggies, some contained a white powder while the others contained a brown powder,” Dolan alleged.

Ruggiero was taken into custody and a search of the vehicle later allegedly yielded 29 bags of heroin, 12 bags of cocaine, a pill bottle containing Alprazolam and Zolpidem pills, and $4,513 in cash, as well as empty baggies.

Ruggiero was held and arraigned Monday. He’s being held on $10,000 cash bail.