Police: Two Men Found with Coke after Traffic Stop in Cortlandt

Two men, one 35 and the other 28, were arrested Saturday on felony drug charges after they were allegedly found to be in possession of cocaine during a traffic stop in Cortlandt Manor.

Hiram Mendez, 35, of Peekskill, and James Marks, 28, of Cortlandt Manor, appeared in Cortlandt town court Monday after they were arrested Saturday for felony drug possession.

Westchester County Police said they were on patrol shortly after midnight Saturday when they allegedly saw a vehicle driven by Mendez  cross the double yellow line near the Citgo gas station on Oregon Road. After stopping the vehicle, officers said they saw that Mendez, who was wearing shorts, had placed a large object in one of his socks.

Officers said they found Mendez to be in possession  of 10 small plastic bags containing almost 12 grams of cocaine, a  small scale and empty plastic baggies similar to the ones that contained the cocaine.

Marks, who was Mendez’s passenger, was allegedly found to be in possession of nearly two grams of cocaine.

Mendez was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony, and two counts of second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.

Marks was charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony.

They were arraigned and sent to Westchester County Jail with bail set at $2,500. Jail officials said both men were released on bail Monday night.