2 Syracuse men found with handgun and Taco Bell bag filled with drugs, police say

Syracuse, N.Y. — Two Syracuse men were arrested after a traffic stop during which officers found a handgun and a bag of drugs, police said.

The officers found 90 glassine envelopes of fentanyl in a Taco Bell bag along with a stolen handgun, according to a Syracuse Police Department post on its Facebook page Wednesday.

The handgun was stolen from Florida and was loaded with 15 rounds, police said.

Around 8:06 p.m. on Sept. 15, Shendu I. Tucker, 20, and Bernie J. Pizarro, 20, were driving a black 2013 Chrysler Town and Country near the 1500 block of First North Street when police said they noticed they were driving without headlights.

Tucker, the driver of the minivan, ran a stop sign and was pulled over by officers, police said.

Officers discovered neither Pizarro or Tucker had a valid driver’s license, police said. In addition to the gun and drugs, police found over $2,200 in cash and two cell phones in Pizarro’s possession, they said.

Tucker and Pizarro were charged with:

  • Third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance
  • Fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance
  • Seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance
  • Fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property
  • Criminal possession of a firearm

Both men were taken to jail, arraigned, and have since been released.

Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at dstevenson@syracuse.com

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