3 Nabbed In Drug Bust At Riverhead Restaurant: Police

RIVERHEAD, NY — Three people were arrested after an investigation into reported drug activity at a restaurant in downtown Riverhead, police said.

According to Riverhead Town police, on February 29, at about 8 p.m. the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, East End Drug Task Force, the Riverhead Police Department's detective bureau, and the Riverhead Police Department's COPE unit executed a search warrant at La Perla Restaurant and Bar, located at 65 East Main Street.

Police said the six-month undercover narcotics' investigation was in response to community complaints of illegal drug activity within the restaurant.

Christopher Contreras, 33, of Coram, was arrested and charged with three counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony, in relation to cocaine sales that occurred within La Perla Restaurant, police said.

James Wicks, 32, of Bohemia, was arrested and charged with two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony, in relation to cocaine sales that took place at the restaurant.

Next, on April 4, at about 7:07 p.m., the restaurant manager, Eliseo Quintanilla, 43, of Manorville, was arrested and charged with second-degree criminal nuisance, a misdemeanor, for maintaining a place "where persons gather to engage in unlawful conduct," police said.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Riverhead Police Department at 631-727-4500, ext. 312. All calls will be kept confidential.

The New York State Liquor Authority was present during the search warrant and will address possible violations of alcoholic beverage control law, police said.