Police Give Update In Investigation Of Drug Lab Found After Hotel Fire

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — There is unsettling new information in the investigation into a downtown New Rochelle hotel room drug lab.

A fire at a New Roc City hotel led to the discovery of an illicit drug lab in a hotel room, according to police.

On April 6, aroun 9:19 p.m., New Rochelle police responded, at the request of the New Rochelle Fire Department, to a report of a suspicious fire at the Marriott Residence Inn at New Roc City.

Police discovered that the hotel's fire suppression system had activated, successfully controlling a blaze originating in a room on the 7th floor. However, the activation of the system resulted in significant flooding across the entire floor.

During the initial investigation, officers found evidence inside the room indicating the presence of a clandestine drug laboratory, officials said. Among the items recovered were quantities of cocaine, along with materials used in the processing of cocaine into crack cocaine, according to police.

Detectives soon developed leads that led them to a hospital in Queens, where they located a suspect receiving treatment for burns sustained during the fire.

The suspect, 47-year-old Pedro Marte, of Manhattan, had suffered injuries to his right arm, torso, and foot. He was transferred to another medical facility, where he was in stable condition under medical care.

Detectives have since uncovered significant new evidence. They followed leads to a storage facility rented by the suspect in New Rochelle. Police obtained and executed a search warrant on the facility on Tuesday.

The search led to a large amount of drug-related items, including a five-foot kilo press, several kilo stamps, around 3 kilograms of cocaine, a half ounce of fentanyl, a large quantity of cutting agents, drug packaging materials, acetone, multiple scales, and additional paraphernalia, cops said.

Police said the discovery indicated a sophisticated drug manufacturing and distribution operation linked to the suspect.

Marte is currently remanded in the custody of the Westchester County Jail, and continues to receive medical treatment for his burns received during the fire.

Once he is released from medical care, police say he is expected to face enhanced charges, including first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and an A-II felony reflecting the severity and scale of the uncovered operation.

NRPD says the investigation remains active, and urge anyone with information to call the general non-emergency line at 914-654-2300, or anonymously at (914) 632-COPS.

SEE ALSO: New Roc City Hotel Fire Reveals Illicit Drug Lab: Police