Police Find Cash, Heroin, Needles After Exchange in Brewster

Four local men with criminal histories are facing misdemeanor and felony charges after an undercover sheriff's deputy observed a drug deal in Brewster, according to officials.

Here's what authorities said in a statement released Wednesday:

At about 3:40 p.m. on August 1, an undercover deputy assigned to the Sheriff’s Narcotics Enforcement Unit was on Main Street, when he observed a male exiting a vehicle, and approaching another man standing on the side of the street, and exchanging a small packet for cash. The seller then returned to his car and drove off. The undercover deputy stopped the vehicle a short time later and conducted a field investigation of the vehicle and its occupants. The officer observed cash and hypodermic needles in the vehicle. The occupants were asked out of the car at which time they were found to be in possession of additional hypodermic needles, heroin, suboxone and cash.

With assistance of a police officer with the Village of Brewster Police Department, the deputy returned to the location where the transaction took place and apprehended the person making the drug purchase.

Here are details on the four individuals arrested:

• A 24-year-old Southeast man who lives on Paddock Farm Road is facing misdemeanor charges of criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument and fourth-degree criminal facilitation. The driver of the vehicle involved, he was released without bail pending a future court appearance. Authorities say he is on probation after having been convicted of third-degree grand larceny, a felony.
• A 28-year-old Patterson man who lives on Sycamore Lane is facing misdemeanor charges of criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument, first-degree loitering and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Authorities identified him as the "pedestrian who was loitering on Main Street for the purpose of purchasing heroin." He too was released without bail pending a future court appearance. He is reportedly on probation after being convicted of driving while ability impaired on drugs.
• Frank P. Rondinone, III, a 37-year-old Brewster man who lives on Wells Street, is facing the following charges: third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony; seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor; and criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument, a misdemeanor. Rondinone has six prior convictions dating back to 2001 and five "open" charges, authorities say. He was arraigned before Putnam County Court Judge James Reitz and sent to jail on $50,000 bail.
• Thomas Simmons, a 33-year-old who lives on Route 22, is facing felony charges of criminal possession and criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree. Following arraignment before Putnam County Court Judge James Reitz he was sent to jail on $300,000 bail. Simmons has 14 prior convictions dating back to 1999 and 25 "open" charges, authorities say. He's served time in New York State prison, the Putnam County Correctional Facility and the Westchester County Jail.