While Pursued By Police, Driver Tossed Drugs Out Of Car Window: NYSP

ARDSLEY, NY — Troopers say a driver's overreaction to a traffic stop led to a substantial drug seizure in Westchester County.

New York State Police say that troopers from Tarrytown stopped a gray Toyota Corolla on the NYS Thruway in Ardsley on Tuesday, around 9:52 p.m., for a cellphone violation.

The driver, 41-year-old Rafael Balbi, of Queens, drove away from the traffic stop and a short vehicle pursuit followed, during which he threw a prescription pill container and a black plastic bag from his moving vehicle, according to troopers.

Troopers at the scene searched the highway shoulder and found the discarded items in the grass, including plastic bags of cocaine, fentanyl, MDMA, oxycontin, and amphetamine pills, police said.

A duffle bag inside of Balbi's car contained psilocybin mushrooms and edible cannabis products, cops said.

In its entirety, the arrest led to the seizure of 992 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 133 grams of cocaine, 5 grams of MDMA, 2.2 grams of fentanyl, 0.9 grams of oxycodone, and 0.3 grams of amphetamine, according to NYSP

Balbi was taken to SP Tarrytown for arrest processing and was charged with one count of felony second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance-intent to sell, one count of felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, one count of felony fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, four counts of misdemeanor seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, felony tampering with evidence, and one count of misdemeanor unlawful fleeing.

Balbi was arraigned in Greenburgh Town Court and was ordered held at the Westchester County Jail, with a return date of March 7.