Police: Threats Lead to Harassment, Drug, Charges

Violent threats made in a West Harrison gas station this week led to two men being charged with possession of cocaine and heroin, police say.

Michael Dimarino, 20, made the alleged threats on Dec. 11 in the Shell gas station on Underhill Avenue at about 7:30 p.m., police say. The threats were directed to a man not present at the time, but made to someone who knows him, police say.

Dimarino, who lives in West Harrison, threatened to "shoot up" the home of the not present man's family if he didn't pay $250 he claimed he was owed, witnesses at the scene told police.

The allegedly threatened man and his immediate family, concerned because they say Dimarino had been driving around the family's home in West Harrison a week earlier, reported the incident to police.

An hour after the alleged incident at the gas station, police spotted Dimarino driving near the intersection of Madison and Underhill Avenues. Police pulled Dimarino over and noticed several metal spoons containing a white powdery residue inside the vehicle. 

Believing the powder to be a narcotic, police arrested Dimarino at the scene. The passenger in the vehicle, 18-year-old James Marino, also of West Harrison, was arrested when police say they found a hypodermic needle in his pocket.

While in police custody police found what they believe to be cocaine and heroin hidden on Dimarino's person. Police also reported finding that Marino was hiding cocaine.

Dimarino faces narcotics possession and harassment charges while Marino faces charges for narcotics possession. The family of the threatened man has also requested an order of protection against Demarino, according to police.

Dimarino and Marino were arraigned the following day with bail set at $3,500.

Neither suspect was able to immediately post bail and both were transfered to Westchester County Jail pending a court appearance this week.