Sagaponack man charged with picking up illegal drugs from bus

A Sagaponack man was arrested on drug charges Wednesday by detectives assigned to Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota's office after he received a bag containing prescription drugs and cocaine being transported on a Hampton Jitney bus, Southampton police said.

Barton Mark Perlbinder, 71, was arraigned in Southampton Town Justice Court on drug charges Thursday and posted $5,000 bail, said Southampton Town Police Sgt. Andrew Ficurilli. Southampton Town police assisted with surveillance that led to the arrest of Perlbinder, who is accused of receiving a package containing Xanax, oxycodone and cocaine.

Perlbinder is charged with several counts of fifth- and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Neither he nor his attorney could not be reached for comment.

Police said they received a tip that a package containing narcotics would be coming on a Hampton Jitney for pickup in Bridgehampton. Suffolk detectives and Southampton police set up surveillance on the bus and arrested Perlbinder when the bus arrived and he picked up the package, police said.

It was not clear Thursday night exactly who put the drugs on the bus and how they were stored. No one from the bus company was charged.