Trio Arrested On Heroin Charges In Suffolk County

HOLBROOK, NY – Three people were arrested, including a woman who had her 4-year-old son in her car, on heroin charges in Suffolk County Friday afternoon.

According to police, Fourth Squad detectives and Fourth Precinct Crime Section Gang officers observed the driver of a 2004 Toyota Corolla, Giovanna Mirando, parked in her vehicle on Hollo on Drive in Holbrook at about 2:30 p.m. Mirando’s passenger, Nicholas Verna, then met Michael Scalia a short distance away and purchased a quantity of heroin from Scalia, police said.

Verna returned to the vehicle, kept a portion of the drugs for himself and gave Mirando the rest, police said. As Mirando began to drive away, detectives and officers pulled over the Toyota and found Mirando’s 4-year-old son in the back seat.

Mirando, 34, of Middle Island, was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of a child. She was released on station house bail and will be arraigned at a later date.

Verna, 32, of East Patchogue, and Scalia, 32, of Farmingville, were both charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Verna was held overnight at the Third Precinct and Scalia was held at the Fourth Precinct. They will both be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip Saturday.

The child was taken to the Fourth Precinct and released to a family member. Suffolk County Child Protective Services was notified.

SCPD photo (L-R): Giovanna Mirando, Michael Scalia and Nicholas Verna