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Detective Joseph Rutigliano Jr. spotted the car pulled to the side of Charter Oak Street, a man standing at the passenger window, just after 3 p.m., Lt. James Witkowski told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
As Rutigliano approached, the man walked inside a nearby home and the driver pulled away, failing to signal and cutting off the detective, Witkowski said.
Rutigliano pulled him over and was joined by Witkowski, Detective Matthew Mueller and Officer Joseph Manfredonia.
They “detected an odor of marijuana from the vehicle,” the lieutenant said.
Given consent to search the vehicle, the officers found cocaine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and drug proceeds, he said.
The driver, Yair Paz-Pineda, admitting being the dealer, Witkowski said.
The passenger, Miguel Hurtado-Tabares, admitted having the marijuana, he added.
Both were charged with various drug possession counts. Paz-Pineda also was charged with cocaine distribution.
Both were released on court summonses.
Paz-Pineda also received several traffic summonses — failure to signal, careless driving, obstructing traffic, inoperable windshield wipers, no insurance, failure to exhibit documents, open alcohol container and drugs in a motor vehicle.
Officers doubled back on the house, but no one answered, Witkowski said.
MUGSHOTS: Courtesy WOOD-RIDGE PD
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