Couple Accused Of Preparing To Use Heroin While Child In Car

Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the arrest of a Danbury, Connecticut man and a Patterson, New York woman after they were found to be in possession of illegal narcotics while occupying a car in which the couple's three year-old son was seated in the back seat.

At approximately 10PM on March 8, 2008, members of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Enforcement Unit were on Route 6 in the Town of Southeast when they observed the pair acting in a suspicious manner while occupying their parked car in the parking lot of a convenience store. As undercover officers approached the vehicle, they observed 28 year-old Tracy Tacineli of Little Pond Road, Patterson, New York, in the process of preparing to inject herself with what was later determined to be heroin. Investigators also noted that Mr. Dwane Gordon, 26 years of age, of Scuppo Road, Danbury, Connecticut, seated next to Ms. Tacinelli, was in possession of numerous syringes and baggies containing a substance later determined to be heroin. The couple was taken into custody and transported to the Sheriff's Office in Carmel for processing. Further investigation revealed that the child's maternal grandparents had previously been awarded custody of the three year-old child and that the court had issued a protective order on behalf of the child requiring Mr. Gordon to stay away from his son.

Mr. Gordon and Ms. Tacinelli were charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, Criminal Possession of a Hypodermic Instrument and Endangering the Welfare of a Child; all class "A" misdemeanors.

Mr. Gordon was additionally charged with a misdemeanor count of Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree for violating the court order.

The pair was arraigned before Southeast Town Justice James Borkowski. They were remanded to the Putnam County Correctional Facility in lieu of $1,000 cash bail. Meanwhile, the toddler was turned over to his grandparents. Investigators also reported the incident to the Department of Social Services Child Protective Unit for follow up action.

A conviction of any of the misdemeanor charges may result in a court imposing a sentence of imprisonment for a term of up to one year in the Putnam County Correctional Facility.