Eight Charged in Drug, Weapon Seizure at Greenlawn Home

Eight people–four of them gang members–were arrested Thursday following a search warrant at a Greenlawn home where police seized drugs and weapons, authorities said.

Suffolk Police say they executed a search warrant at 72 Rutgers Lane after an investigation by detectives from the Narcotics Section, along with detectives from the Second and Fourth Precinct Special Operations Team, Criminal Intelligence Bureau, officers from the Second and Fourth Precinct Gang Units, Emergency Service Section and Canine Section.

Investigators seized heroin, crack cocaine and marijuana, with an estimated street value of nearly $15,000, police said.

Two loaded handguns, an electronic stun gun, cash, digital scales and an assortment of drug packaging equipment were also seized, police said.

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The following people were arrested:

• Alex Otero, 25, a resident of the home, was charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, six counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, and unlawful possession of marijuana.
• Melissa Saldarriaga, 19, a resident of the home, was charged with two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia and unlawful possession of marijuana.
• Brian Ochsenreiter, 23, a resident of the home, was charged with two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana. He was also charged with petit larceny for an unrelated incident.
• Bruce Giles, 26, of Huntington Station, was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and a bench warrant for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Joshua Crowell, 20, of Dix Hills, Karl Latortue, 32, of Dix Hills, Christine Gatling, 22, of Brooklyn, and Nadine Parker, 26, of Brooklyn, were each charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Otero, Ochsenreiter, Giles and Crowell are confirmed gang members, police say.

Those arrested were scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip Friday.

SCPD Photos: Row 1: (left to right) Alex Otero, Brian Ochsenreiter, Bruce Giles, Nadine Parker.Row 2: (left to right) Karl Latortue, Melissa Saldarriaga, Joshua Crowell, Christine Gatling

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