Routine Traffic Stop Leads To Hudson Valley Drug Bust

On Tuesday April 22nd, New York State Police pulled over a vehicle on the Taconic Parkway in the Hudson Valley for what started out as a routine traffic stop. Little did officers know they were about to conduct a major drug bust.

New York State Troopers were able to confiscate approximately 115 grams of cocaine and one crack pipe during this stop. A quick search of street prices for cocaine show that amount is the equivalent of around $23,000. This is how it all went down.

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On Tuesday April 22nd, New York State Troopers out of Troop K spotted a 1995 BMW 318TI heading northbound on the Taconic Parkway in the town of Clinton. Officers discovered that this vehicle had multiple violations.

Once Troopers had the vehicle pulled over, officers started to conduct an investigation which included the Dutchess County Drug Task Force and K-9 Denver. Officer Denver was able to get a positive alert for the presence of illegal narcotics.

troopers.ny.gov

Police officers on the scene searched the BMW and found one crack pipe and a small baggie containing cocaine. One of the vehicle's occupants had a plastic baggie containing a large quantity of cocaine hidden in his right shoe.

New York State Police arrested the following individuals under these charges:

35-year-old Joseph W. Richards of Lake Luzerne, NY
- Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs with Two Prior Convictions within 10 Years
- Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the 2nd Degree
- Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree
27-year-old Christopher L. Bracero Mendez of Saratoga Springs, NY
- Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th Degree
- Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree, 3rd Degree and 2nd Degree
- Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia in the 2nd Degree

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