The Secaucus Police Department arrested three people on Friday for possession of methamphetamine, GHB, a stun gun and a loaded handgun, Police Chief Dennis Miller announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
On July 11th, detectives from the Secaucus PD’s Police Anti-Crime Unit, under the supervision of Det. Sgt. Joseph Fuardo, were conducting surveillance in the area of the Rodeway Inn, 155 Route 3 East, which is a hotel known for vice crimes, Miller said Monday.
At approximately 1:55 p.m., detectives observed a male, later identified as Larry W. Urtarte, 32, of Paterson, place a large bag into a black Ford Taurus, which left the area.
The Ford Taurus was followed to Route 3 West and Meadowlands Parkway where it was stopped and it eventually became known that the vehicle was being operated by a rideshare driver who was contracted to deliver the bag to an address in Newark.
During a search of the bag, detectives seized a bag of suspected methamphetamine. It was determined that the driver of the rideshare was not a knowing participant in the criminal activity and he was released from the scene.
Detectives observed Urtarte and a woman leave the Rodeway in another rideshare vehicle.
Police officers from the Secaucus Police Patrol Division conducted a stop of this vehicle in the area of 1379 Paterson Plank Road.
Urtarte was placed under arrest after it was discovered he had an active warrant from Nassau County, NY with no bail and an active warrant from Clifton with a bail amount of $1,500.
A search of bags belonging to Urtarte uncovered a bag of suspected methamphetamine, a .40 caliber Glock 22 semi-automatic handgun, loaded with 15 hollow point bullets, a stun gun, and suspected GHB.
Afterwards, anti-crime unit detectives approached two other individuals who interacted with Urtarte at the Rodeway Inn. Austin Latrise Brown, 28, of Kalamazoo, MI, was discovered to have an active warrant from the Michigan Department of Corrections and was arrested.
Brown was found in possession of a quantity of suspected methamphetamine. Additionally, Franklin Farino, 55, of Paterson, was found in possession of drug paraphernalia and was subsequently arrested.
“If the criminal element thinks they will use Secaucus hotels to commit nefarious activities without repercussions, they are mistaken. The Anti-Crime Unit will continue to probe our local hotels for criminal activity and bring those to justice who choose to commit crimes in our town,” Miller added.
“I praise the hard and dedicated work of my detectives and patrol personnel, which directly led to these arrests along with the seizure of a loaded handgun and narcotics in this case. I also want to recognize and thank both the Secaucus Police and Bergen County Sheriff’s K-9 units for their assistance in this investigation.”
Urtarte was charged with possession of methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm while committing a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) offense, unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of hollow point bullets, certain persons not to possess a weapon, possession of a high-capacity magazine, and being a fugitive from justice.
Further, Brown was charged with being a fugitive from justice and possession of methamphetamine. Farino was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.
Urtarte and Brown were lodged in the Hudson County Correctional Facility, while Farino was released pending his first court appearance, Miller noted.
