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Drivers caught with drugs during traffic stops in Southampton Town

Three drivers pulled over this week in separate traffic stop investigations were arrested on drug charges and various violations, according to a Southampton Town police press release issued Friday.

During an inspection checkpoint at 12:30 p.m. Monday on Lake Avenue in Riverside, police stopped Herman Patterson, 32, of Northampton, after noticing a strong odor of marijuana coming from his vehicle, officials said.

An officer also found a marijuana cigarette on the floor inside the vehicle and determined Mr. Patterson didn’t have a driver’s license, police said.

Mr. Patterson was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and unlawful possession of marijuana, officials said.

He was released on an appearance ticket to return to court on a later date, police said.

• A Calverton man was pulled over Tuesday shortly before 6:30 p.m. on Cypress Avenue in Flanders for an illegal window tint and was charged with driving without an interlock device and having a revoked driver’s license stemming from a prior driving while intoxicated conviction, officials said.

Anthony Durham, 29, was also in possession of PCP and marijuana, police said.

He was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of marijuana, circumventing an interlock device, equipment violation side windows non-transparent, driving without a license and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, officials said.

• Heather Degroff, 28, was arrested on drug charges after a bag containing cocaine fell to the ground when she stepped out of her vehicle during a traffic stop Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on Peconic Avenue in Riverside, police said.

Police requested Ms. Degroff to exit her vehicle after they found several beer bottles and prescription bottles inside her vehicle, officials.

She was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, police said.