Cops: Riverside man tried swallowing crack cocaine during drug bust

A 45-year-old Riverside Avenue man was busted on a slew of drug charges after trying to swallow crack cocaine during a bust by members of the East End Drug Task Force, police said.

Spencer Hobson of Vail Avenue “was observed conducting a drug transaction and attempted to swallow the drugs when task force officers approached him,” according to a press release issued Wednesday.

Police recovered the alleged drugs, which they said was crack cocaine, and later recovered more crack cocaine, powder cocaine, marijuana and heroin.

Officers also located and seized cash, packaging materials and scales, police said.

It was not clear in the release where the bust occurred, though a police spokeswoman was able to say the alleged transaction happened about 12:30 p.m. Friday.

Mr. Hobson is facing three felony charges and one misdemeanor for criminal possession of a controlled substance, and two misdemeanor counts of criminal use of a drug paraphernalia.

He was also charged with second-degree conspiracy as part of a drug investigation that has since conclusion.

The East End Drug Task Force is a overseen by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office and comprises town and village police from the county’s five eastern towns, Suffolk County police and the sheriff’s office, as well as DA investigators.