Secaucus hotel surveillance leads to meth bust, gun seizure and three arrests
Detectives say a rideshare driver unknowingly transported suspected drugs, while two fugitives and another man were arrested following an investigation at the Rodeway Inn.
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Three people were arrested after a Secaucus police surveillance operation at a local hotel led to the seizure of suspected methamphetamine, a loaded handgun and other contraband, authorities said.
Detectives were conducting surveillance Saturday afternoon near the Rodeway Inn on Route 3 East when they saw a man later identified as 32-year-old Larry W. Urtarte of Paterson place a large bag into a Ford Taurus that left the hotel, police said.
Police stopped the vehicle on Route 3 West near Meadowlands Parkway and determined it was being driven by a rideshare driver who had been hired to deliver the bag to Newark. Detectives found suspected methamphetamine inside the bag and determined the driver was not knowingly involved in the alleged criminal activity. The driver was released.
Detectives later stopped another rideshare vehicle carrying Urtarte and a woman. Police said Urtarte was wanted on an active no-bail warrant from Nassau County, New York, and another warrant from Clifton with $1,500 bail. A search of his belongings allegedly uncovered suspected methamphetamine, a loaded .40-caliber Glock handgun with 15 hollow-point rounds, a stun gun and suspected GHB.
Investigators also arrested Austin Latrise Brown, 28, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, who police said was wanted by the Michigan Department of Corrections and allegedly possessed suspected methamphetamine. Franklin Farino, 55, of Paterson, was arrested after police said he was found with drug paraphernalia.
Urtarte was charged with multiple offenses, including drug distribution, several weapons charges and being a fugitive from justice. Brown was charged with being a fugitive from justice and drug possession. Farino was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Urtarte and Brown were taken to the Hudson County Jail, while Farino was released pending a court appearance.
