A Dunkirk man was nabbed by authorities Monday, nine days after he and an Irving man were caught allegedly transporting a large quantity of heroin into the city, Dunkirk police reported.
Raymond Rodriguez-Santiago, 39, of West Second Street, was arrested by Dunkirk police early Monday on a warrant stemming from the evening traffic stop Dec. 22 on Middle Road at the city line.
A Dunkirk police officer observed a vehicle driven by Michael A. Orazio, 42, of Irving, make an abrupt left turn from Lake Shore Drive East onto Stegelske Avenue without signaling about 7:25 p.m. Dec. 22, in an apparent move to avoid traveling past a Dunkirk patrol car, authorities said.
The officer stopped Orazio on Middle Road near the city line as he was about to head back out of the city, police said.
Orazio was arrested immediately after he was allegedly found to be driving on a suspended license. His passenger, Rodriguez-Santiago, left the area from the stop.
A subsequent investigation by police revealed “several thousand dollars worth of heroin and a small amount of marijuana, both being packaged for distribution,” according to police reports.
The heroin was secreted inside the vehicle. Police said it became apparent then that Rodriguez-Santiago was also allegedly involved.
Besides failure to use a turn signal and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, Orazio was charged at the scene with violation marijuana possession as well as felony criminal possession of a controlled substance.
The follow-up investigation led police to Rodriguez-Santiago. He was taken into custody Monday pending arraignment in Dunkirk City Court, police said.
Additional arrests and charges were expected, police also noted.
email: tpignataro@buffnews.com
Raymond Rodriguez-Santiago, 39, of West Second Street, was arrested by Dunkirk police early Monday on a warrant stemming from the evening traffic stop Dec. 22 on Middle Road at the city line.
A Dunkirk police officer observed a vehicle driven by Michael A. Orazio, 42, of Irving, make an abrupt left turn from Lake Shore Drive East onto Stegelske Avenue without signaling about 7:25 p.m. Dec. 22, in an apparent move to avoid traveling past a Dunkirk patrol car, authorities said.
The officer stopped Orazio on Middle Road near the city line as he was about to head back out of the city, police said.
Orazio was arrested immediately after he was allegedly found to be driving on a suspended license. His passenger, Rodriguez-Santiago, left the area from the stop.
A subsequent investigation by police revealed “several thousand dollars worth of heroin and a small amount of marijuana, both being packaged for distribution,” according to police reports.
The heroin was secreted inside the vehicle. Police said it became apparent then that Rodriguez-Santiago was also allegedly involved.
Besides failure to use a turn signal and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, Orazio was charged at the scene with violation marijuana possession as well as felony criminal possession of a controlled substance.
The follow-up investigation led police to Rodriguez-Santiago. He was taken into custody Monday pending arraignment in Dunkirk City Court, police said.
Additional arrests and charges were expected, police also noted.
email: tpignataro@buffnews.com