Two Arrested After Allegedly Smoking Crack Alongside Unmarked Police Car

It was no Tony Soprano swirling cigar smoke moment.

Two women were stopped at a traffic light near John and Oriskany Streets next to another car when the woman driving was seen allegedly lighting and smoking something from a glass tube.

To the occupants of the vehicle next to them it appeared that the driver was smoking "crack" cocaine.  The Utica Police officers, driving an unmarked police car, pulled over the driver.

As they approached, one of the officers saw the passenger allegedly take a small container out of her bra and attempt to hide it behind the driver's seat.

The driver was identified as 31-year old Amanda Velardi of Rome, New York and 48-year old Rose Koster of Green Street in Utica.

Investigators say the container that was allegedly hidden by Koster contained sixty-seven   hydrocodone pills.  Police say they also found the women with cocaine and heroin.

Koster was charged with two felony counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell and three misdemeanor counts of criminal possession.

Velardi was charged with two misdemeanor counts of criminal possession.

The incident took place on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at approximately 7:37pm.  Both Velardi and Koster face future court appearances.