County Cops on the Hutch Catch Van Passenger with Marijuana

A Massachusetts man caught passing through Scarsdale with a backpack full of pot is due in Village Court tomorrow to answer a felony drug charge.

A Westchester County officer stopped a livery van on the northbound Hutch this morning for a traffic violation.

County police spokesman Kieran O'Leary said police Officer Emil Garcia was on patrol near Weaver Street on the northbound Hutchinson River Parkway about 10 a.m. this morning when he stopped the van.

As he approached the driver, Garcia saw one of the passengers pushing a backpack with his feet underneath the seat in front of him. Though Vasquez at first denied the backpack was his, he admitted it after other passengers disputed his story.

The county brought in Detective Mark Carey and police dog Helena. The dog indicated the presence of narcotics and a subsequent search turned up 1.7 pounds of marijuana wrapped in two separate packages. Vasquez was taken into custody. 

The van, which was headed to Winchester, MA, was permitted to continue on its way, O'Leary said.

Pedro Vasquez, 25, of Worcester, MA, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of marijuana, a felony, and held at county police headquarters. 

He is due in Scarsdale Village Court tomorrow for arraignment.