Police: Traffic stop in Hempstead yields marijuana bust

State Police stopped a car on suspicion of speeding on the Southern State Parkway Tuesday morning and ended up arresting two West Islip men, one on charges of criminal possession of marijuana and the other on a parole violation.

Erikson Dejesus, 28, and Raymond Vasquez, 30, both of 328 West Third St., were stopped around 3:10 a.m. driving east on the parkway near Exit 18, Eagle Avenue, in Hempstead, police said.

Troopers noticed a strong smell of marijuana, and Dejesus, the driver, told them he had a bag of it on the back seat. Dejesus gave police a quarter-pound bag, according to police, who also discovered Vasquez was wanted on a parole violation, they said.

Dejesus also was charged with vehicle and traffic violations. He was scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead.

Arraignment information for Vasquez was not immediately available.