Westchester County Police arrested the pair after a traffic stop on the Hutchinson River Parkway. The couple had five children, ranging in age from 4 to 12 years old, in the car with them at the time of their arrest, police said. One person arrested is the mother of three of the children, police said.
Officer Christopher Perricone was on patrol on the Hutch at about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday when he said he saw a Ford Explorer traveling north with five children in a rear seat who were all moving around and not using seat belts. He stopped the car near Webster Avenue and found that the driver had a suspended license, police said.
During a search of the car, Perricone found a backpack in the rear cargo area containing about 2.5 pounds of cocaine. The cocaine has an estimated street value of about $30,000 when purchased in bulk and up to $100,000, when broken down for resale in smaller quantities, police said.
Anthony Navarro, 31, of 188 St., the Bronx, and Jerica Ramirez, 32, of Grandview Place, the Bronx, were arrested and charged with first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and five counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. Navarro was additionally charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor.
Navarro and Ramirez were scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in New Rochelle City Court.
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