Stamford NIU Make 2 Arrests Following Drug Lot Surveillance

Officers from Stamford Police Department's Neighborhood Impact Unit made two arrests following a surveillance operation on a Manhattan St. parking lot early Tuesday morning, police announced Tuesday.

Officers watching over a parking lot in the 100 block of Manhattan St. at around 1 a.m. reportedly witnessed a silver Mazda drive up to the location and saw two Hispanic males exit the vehicle, identified by police as Jairo Morales, 20, of Soundview Ave., and Eddy Muralles-Oliva, 30, of Cove Rd.

Muralles-Oliva was allegedly seen involved in an exchange with a black male in the parking lot, handing the man some money and heading back to his vehicle and driving off, according to police, who then began following the vehicle.

Police said after allegedly blowing through a stop sign and being pulled over by police, Muralles-Oliva, who had reportedly been driving, and Morales, switched places inside the vehicle prior to the approach of the officers, as it was discovered Muralles-Oliva did not have a license.

According to authorities, the pair was removed from the vehicle and searched, at which point police allegedly found crack cocaine in their possession. One of the men allegedly told police they had just purchased it during their visit to the parking lot on Manhattan St. The .2 grams of crack cocaine allegedly found had a street value of approximately $30, police said.

Morales and Muralles-Oliva both face charges of possession of narcotics and conspiracy to commit possession of narcotics. Muralles-Oliva was additionally charged with operating a motor vehicle without a license.

Each was held on a $1,000 bond and scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 2, 2013.