Felony Driving, Weapons Charges For Driver Of Disabled Car

RAMAPO, NY — A New York state trooper stopped to help a disabled motorist on the Palisades Parkway Saturday and ended up making an arrest.

The trooper said he saw a Dodge Durango stopped in a southbound lane near exit 11 at 2:12 p.m. Saturday.

While talking to the driver, identified as Mario Pacho Tocachi, 28 of Sunset Park, NY, the trooper came to the conclusion that Tocachi was impaired by alcohol. Then Tocachi ran away, police said.

The pursuit was short.

While searching Tocachi, troopers located a .25 caliber handgun and cocaine in his pants pocket. A search of the Durango yielded additional cocaine, police said.

Tocachi was charged Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd degree, Willfully Defacing a Gun, Criminal Possession of Controlled Substance 5th degree (all felonies), felony DWI, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 1st degree, plus Obstruction of Governmental Administration and Resisting Arrest (misdemeanors).

He was arraigned virtually by Town of Ramapo Judge Fried and sent to Rockland County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail. Tocachi is scheduled to appear in court Thursday.