NEW ROCHELLE, NY — For the second time in a week, Jax, a Westchester County Police K-9 officer assisted in making a major felony arrest on the Hutch in New Rochelle. As a result of his efforts, a Bronx man is facing felony drug charges after discovered $180,000 worth of prescription medication in a hidden compartment in his car.
The incident began about 8 p.m. Thursday.
Westchester County Police Officer Christian Gutierrez stopped an Acura MDX for a traffic violation on the northbound Hutchinson River Parkway near Webster Avenue in New Rochelle, said WCPD Spokesperson Kieran O'Leary.
"While speaking with the driver, he observed that alterations had been made to the vehicle’s floorboards, which is often an indication that a “trap” or hidden compartment has been installed," he added.
Gutierrez brought his canine partner Jax, a narcotics detection canine, to the vehicle. Jax indicated the presence of narcotics in the area where Gutierrez had observed the alterations.
The driver was taken into custody and the vehicle impounded. A search back at county police headquarters in Hawthorne located the hidden compartment, which contained 4,500 Oxycodone and Percocet pills.
“There is a direct connection between the current heroin epidemic and the abuse of prescription opioid pain killers such as Oxycodone and Percocet,” Commissioner George N. Longworth said. “This is an outstanding arrest that has removed a significant quantity of illegal narcotics from our streets.”
Dionny Duran, 51, of Franklin Avenue was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Degree, a felony. He was arraigned in New Rochelle City Court on Friday and was ordered held without bail at the Westchester County Jail in Valhalla.
Thursday night’s arrest was the second significant arrest made by Gutierrez and Jax on the Hutch in the past week. Last Friday, the officer and his canine partner arrested a career criminal from Texas who was found in possession of a stolen handgun and 13 ounces of marijuana. The suspect was also wanted for burglary in New Jersey.