ROCKLAND — Rockland Police detained two individuals Friday morning following a traffic stop that led to the discovery of drugs and firearms.
At approximately 11:30 a.m., officers pulled over a vehicle on Route 17 for a traffic violation and found that the driver, 38-year-old Eliesha Merriam of Hartford, was operating with a suspended license.
The investigation escalated when police discovered a considerable amount of narcotics in the possession of passenger Maurice Johnson, 21, of Brooklyn, New York.
Johnson had roughly 50 grams of cocaine, 14 grams of crack cocaine, 10 grams of fentanyl, and several prescription opiates, along with a handgun.
A juvenile accompanying Johnson, also from Brooklyn, was found with a handgun as well.
Merriam was charged with operating after suspension and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.
Johnson faces charges of unlawful possession of scheduled drugs and a felony aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs charge, which is enhanced due to the possession of a firearm.
Johnson is currently held at Knox County Jail.
The juvenile was charged with concealing a weapon under the age of 21 and was released with a juvenile summons at the request of the Juvenile Community Corrections Officer, in accordance with state law and policy.
