Car, Foot Chase Leads To Drug Bust

Editor's Note: One or more names in this report have been redacted in light of additional documentation provided regarding this case.

YONKERS, NY — Westchester County police arrested four people and seized four kilos of illegal narcotics Monday following a vehicle and foot pursuit in Yonkers. It originated about 1 p.m.when the Real Time Crime Center at County Police headquarters reported that a black Mercedes Benz, wanted in connection with a shooting investigation in New York City, was traveling on the Hutchinson River Parkway.

A patrol officer located the car on the Cross County Parkway, followed it to the northbound Saw Mill River Parkway and attempted a traffic stop on the exit ramp to Yonkers Avenue.

The driver refused to pull over, fled eastbound along Yonkers Avenue and then traveled southbound on Central Park Avenue, police said. Then he stopped near a Mavis auto dealership, grabbed a backpack from the car and ran off.

The officer chasing him saw him toss the backpack behind the Mavis shop, police alleged. The officer was able to catch the man a short distance away and take him into custody. The backpack was recovered.

It contained heroin and cash, police said.

Three passengers in the car – a man and two women ­– were detained at the scene by county officers and were also taken into custody at that time. Another backpack containing illegal narcotics was found inside the car.

In total, one kilo of suspected heroin and three kilos of suspected cocaine were seized along with $9,400 in cash, police said.

County police on Monday night charged all four with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Degree, a felony. They are identified as:

• Jeidy Rodriguez, 35, of Paterson, New Jersey
• Red Pichardo, 28, of Manhattan
• (removed)
• Nicolle Baez, 21, of Manhattan

The suspects were booked at County Police headquarters in Hawthorne and held overnight for arraignment Tuesday in Yonkers City Court.