Drug Bust Leads to Arrest of Three From New Rochelle

Three New Rochelle residents were arrested Oct. 25 on drug-related charges.

Around 7:30 p.m., Greenburgh Task Force members reported to Tarrytown police that they had two people in custody at the Bridge Plaza but a third person had fled on foot. Assisting officers reported catching the person by the entrance to the thruway after a foot pursuit. Greenburgh task member, a detective in the Irvington Police Department, claimed he sustained an injury to his right thumb while placing a young man under arrest.

According to Lieutenant William Herguth, police found:

• one clear plastic bag with a quantity of power believed to be cocaine.
• 11 clear bags alleged to be marijuana

Officers arrested the three, all from New Rochelle, with the following charges:

Rashaan Davis, 18, with:

• Third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance
• Fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance
• Resisting arrest

Stephanie Lopez, 18, with:

• Third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance
• Fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance

Jose Dejesus Vargas, 20, with:

• Third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance
• Fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance
• Third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation

The three all happen to these birthdays: Sept. 27, Sept. 27, Sept. 29. Suspicious or coincidence? Herguth said, “The information provided was verified.”

Officers transported the two men and the woman to headquarters for processing—one of them put on constant watch after being suicide screened.

Herguth said there are any number of factors on a checklist during the screening that could merit somebody being put on extra watch, such as being high or answering one question a certain way. 

Their car was impounded. Defendents were held overnight pending arraignment.

The officer injured refused medical attention on the scene and planned to file paperwork with his employer. Lopez and Vargas were released on bail, $500 and $1,000 respectively, and Davis was remanded on $500 bail, all with a court date. 

Recently Tarrytown police responded to a very similiar call, also involving a New Rochelle resident. Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force alerted them of an  near the Kraft Foods company. An officer injured his leg during the pursuit. Three were arrested with drug-related and other charges.