Island Park, NY - January 4, 2019 - Fourth Squad detectives report the arrest of an Island Park man for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance that occurred on Thursday, January 3, 2019 at 4:00 pm in Island Park.
According to detectives, Bureau of Special Operations Officers observed a red 2017 Mitsubishi traveling westbound on Warwick Road. The operator and front passenger were not wearing seat belts. The officers activated their emergency lights and conducted a Vehicle and Traffic Law Stop.
While conducting a thorough investigation, it was determined the front seat passenger Andre Benton, 45, was in possession of 120 glassine envelopes containing a substance believed to be heroin and a white substance believed to be crack cocaine. He was arrested without incident.
The operator Joseph Smorto, 50, was arrested for Aggravated Unlicensed Operator.
Defendant Benton is charged with two (2) counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 4th Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree and No Seatbelt Front Passenger. He will be arraigned Friday, January 4, 2019 at First District Court, Hempstead.
Defendant Smorto is charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operator of a Vehicle 3rd Degree and multiple Traffic Violations. He was issued an Appearance Ticket for February 16, 2019.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.