NORTH AMITYVILLE, NY (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — Officers arrested five people during a State Liquor Authority inspection on Friday night after finding cocaine in plain view, and the restaurant was shut down due to code violations, the Suffolk County Police Department said.
Law enforcement, in conjunction with the Town of Babylon Quality of Life Team, NYS DMV Division of Field Investigation and the NY State Liquor Authority, conducted a State Liquor Authority inspection at 10:43 p.m. on Friday. The inspection took place at Casa Bella restaurant, located at 577 Broadway.
Three of the restaurant’s customers were found in possession of cocaine in plain view, police said. Officers recovered more unclaimed cocaine on the floor over the course of the inspection.
Casa Bella’s manager, Henry Segovia, 34, was charged with criminal nuisance, a misdemeanor, for “operating a disorderly premise,” police said.
Twenty-three-year-old Selvin Garcia and Osmin Alvarenga-Hernandez, 29, were charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Garcia’s charge was a misdemeanor, officials said.
Cruz Guillen-Mejia, 39, was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession, but was also arrested for an active warrant for trespassing, police said.
Helmer Alvarado, 43, was arrested for an active traffic violation warrant.
All the arrestees are of nearby towns, excluding Guillien-Mejia, who is unhoused. They were all issued appearance tickets and are expected in court in Central Islip on Feb. 23.
The Town of Babylon shut down Casa Bella, and the town’s Fire Marshal and Building Inspector issued several summonses for code violations, authorities said.
Casa Bella was referred to the State Liquor Authority for further investigation.