Community Corner
Holbrook Woman Snagged In NJ Drug Bust
Cops say illegal parking maneuver at rest stop on Palisades Parkway led to drug charges.
A Holbrook woman is under arrest after Palisades Parkway Police nabbed her and four others for allegedly carrying a large supply of drugs.
According to the New Jersey agency, the bust took place yesterday at around 3 a.m. when officer Gregory Kimbro Jr. discovered a grey 2007 Honda with New York plates parked illegally in the Sunoco gas station on the southbound side of the Palisades Parkway in Englewood Cliffs.
Police say the vehicle attempted to pull away from the fire zone, but traveled in the wrong direction of traffic. Officer Joseph Villone assisted Kimbro in stopping the vehicle.
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When the driver of the vehicle opened the window, Kimbro reported that he smelled marijuana wafting out. Seated in the car were three males and one female, Stephanie Banks, 19, of Holbrook. A fourth male approached the vehicle as he emerged from the store.
Police say the occupants consented to a personal and vehicular search, during which they discovered three bags of "Molly," a purer form of Ecstasy on Banks' person.
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Three of the four males were found with cocaine and ecstasy. The fifth suspect was not found with any contraband on his person. A search of the vehicle yielded a "sizable amount" of cocaine and other drug paraphernalia stored in a duffle bag in the trunk, according to police.
All five occupants denied the bag was theirs, and consequently all were charged with drug possession.
Banks was charged with possession of MDMA (ecstasy), possession of cocaine, two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana under 50 grams. Her bail was set at $112,500.
The four men arrested with Banks was:
- Niel Lipple, 28, of Island Park
- Fernando Soto, 26, of Central Islip
- Corey Monath, 26, of Patchogue
- Justin Clark, 23, of Patchogue
Police say the suspects were returning from a weekend concert in an unknown upstate New York location when they were arrested.
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