Police: Suspects sold heroin from store

Four men, including the owner, working at a Wantagh beverage distributor were arrested after a monthlong investigation that police said uncovered heroin being dealt out of the store -- a store near a middle school and high school.

Police said the four suspects were arrested during the execution of a search warrant Tuesday, after a joint investigation by Nassau and Suffolk Narcotics Section detectives that determined heroin was being sold from the business.

Suffolk County police said business owner Michael Schwartzman, 44, of Deer Park, was arrested on an outstanding Suffolk warrant for a traffic violation, as well as a false-personation charge. Police stressed Schwartzman was not charged with drug infractions -- and there was no proof he was aware of the drug dealing.

The other three men were charged with drug violations, police said.

The store is on Beltagh Avenue, near Wantagh Middle and Wantagh High schools.

Arrested with Schwartzman were Jason Cruz, 21, of the Bronx, Jeffrey Marmolejos, 22, of the Bronx, and Michael Pfister, 22, of Wantagh.

Cruz was charged with five counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and five counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in or near school grounds.

Marmolejos was charged with one count of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and Pfister was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.

The investigation is continuing, police said, and the State Liquor Authority is also investigating.