Woman Charged with Cocaine Possession at Palisades Parkway Gas Station

An Upstate New York woman has been accused of being an illegal drug courier after more than three ounces of cocaine were found in a car that was improperly parked at a gas station along the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Englewood Cliffs, according to PIP Police.

PIP Officer Frankie Garrett was checking the Sunoco station on the northbound side of the parkway in Englewood Cliffs - a gas station used by many Rockland County commuters - at about 4:55 p.m. on Tuesday when he came upon a 2013 Hyundai Elantra that was improperly parked. Michael J. Coppola, acting chief of the PIP police, said Garrett was issuing a parking ticket when he saw a woman leave the gas station's convenience store and get into the car.

Coppola said that as Garrett approached the car he could smell a strong odor of marijuana. After questioning the woman, a search of the car discovered more than three ounces of cocaine and other drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Coppola said a follow up investigation found that the woman, Harley Lynn Rooney, 22, of Binghamton, was hired to transport drugs to Binghamton by another person. She was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute as well as possession of cocaine and other drugs.

Rooney is being held on $60,000 bail pending a court hearing in New Jersey.

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