Drug task force recovers heroin, crack, MDMA in downtown bust
In the wake of a rash of crimes downtown over the past week, an East End Drug Task Force bust on Third Street resulted in the arrest of four men and one woman on Wednesday.
Police said “numerous neighborhood complaints about illegal narcotic activity” had been filed, resulting in an investigation and the recovery of heroin, crack and MDMA which were taken yesterday around 4:45 p.m.
Police said two individuals were arrested on felony charges and three more were charged on lesser crimes.
Shirley resident Jeffrey Pittman, 44, was arrested on charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree and fourth degree, both felonies, as well as a misdemeanor charge of loitering in the first degree and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation.
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Rasheed Manuel, 22, of Mastic, was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree and fifth degree, both felonies, as well as criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree and loitering in the first, both misdemeanors.
Three other individuals were charged with loitering in the first degree, including Flanders resident Tesheara Fields, 22. Maurice Pittman, 36, of Coram, was arrested on a New York State parole warrant on top of the loitering charge, and Bridgehampton resident Brandon Williams, 27, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana in addition to loitering.
Police said that three of the individuals are expected to be arraigned this morning.
The East End Drug Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional drug enforcement unit funded by the office of Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota. The task force includes detectives, police officers and law enforcement personnel from the following agencies: New York State Police, Suffolk County Police Department, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, Suffolk County Department of Probation, Southampton Town Police Department, Riverhead Police Department, East Hampton Town Police Department, Southampton Village Police Department, Southold Town Police Department, Drug Enforcement Agency, Homeland Security and Suffolk County District Attorney.
