Drug investigation yields second arrest

Monroe - A second person has been charged in an ongoing investigation of cocaine sales in the village of Monroe. Police said Marlon J. Ramos, a 27-year old living on Tananger Road in Monroe, was arrested Tuesday. He was charged with one count each of third-degree criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance, both felonies, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation. The case begins back in February when police arrested Jose Salmeron on similar drug charges. At the time, police said Salmeron, a Honduran national living in the village for the last 18 months, was reportedly telling people he was trying to set up a small-scale drug operation. Salmeron was arrested after selling cocaine to a confidential police informant, police said last month. This week, police said they believe that Ramos is the person who sold the cocaine to Salmeron, who in turn sold it to the informant. When people asked him to purchase cocaine, Ramos told police that he would drive to Newburgh, buy it and then return to Monroe where he would resell it for a profit, police said. Ramos was arraigned before Monroe Town Justice Morton Marshak and sent to the Orange County Jail on $35,000.00 cash or $100,000 bond for a later court appearance. Police asked that anyone who wished to report drug sales may do so by calling the department at 782-8644 or its confidential TIPS line at 492-TIPS. All calls and information will remain confidential.