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Police: Search turns up cocaine

Trio allegedly had $80K worth of drug in vehicle console

RODRIGUEZ

Logan Township police arrested three people from out of state Tuesday after discovering more than 5 pounds of cocaine in their vehicle, court documents state.

Buffalo, New York, residents Yoliemar A. Rodriguez, 22, and Bryan M. Torres-Garcia, 26, were arraigned Tuesday along with Jose Encarnacion, 24, of Lynn, Massachusetts, by Magisterial District Judge Andrew Blattenberger, according to court documents.

The trio were charged with multiple counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver as well as possession of a small amount of marijuana, court documents stated.

Just after midnight Tuesday, a Logan Township officer spotted a vehicle driving suspiciously close to another vehicle along Interstate 99, police reported.

The officer, who was parked in the emergency-turnaround area with his vehicle’s high beams on, noted the vehicle crossed over the fog line after passing the police vehicle.

TORRES-GARCIA

The officer indicated that cross the fog line was a sign the driver might be paying more attention to the rearview mirror than the road.

After following the vehicle and observing the driver cross the fog line four additional times, police initiated a traffic stop.

Although Torres-Garcia was driving, he reportedly did not speak English well, causing police to rely on Rodriguez as an interpreter, a criminal complaint stated.

Whereas Rodriguez told police they were traveling to Virginia to see Torres-Garcia’s father in Virginia, Torres-Garcia said they were going to visit Encarnacion’s family, police reported.

After receiving permission from Torres-Garcia, police searched the vehicle and immediately found a small amount of marijuana under the passenger seat, court documents stated.

ENCARNACION

Upon further inspection, police discovered an unusual cut in the carpet leading under the center console. Police removed the plastic covering the stick shift and console, discovering a void beneath containing two vacuum-sealed packages of cocaine, court documents stated.

Logan Township Police Chief David Reese said the packages weighed a little more than 5 pounds and had a street value of

about $80,000.

Torres-Garcia, Encarnacion and Rodriguez were arrested at the scene, and all three are currently jailed at Blair County Prison, unable to post their individual $300,000 cash bails, court documents stated.

Preliminary hearings are scheduled for May 20 with Magisterial District Judge Matthew Dunio.

Mirror Staff Writer Ike Fredregill is at 814-946-7458.

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