NORTHAMPTON — City police said they uncovered about 41 grams of cocaine earlier this month in a Northampton woman’s home while detectives were inspecting the residence after a reported break-in.
The 41 grams of cocaine, the woman told police, must have been left behind in the cabinet by whoever broke into her residence, according to a police report.
Sarah Rivera, 25, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Northampton District Court to a charge of trafficking cocaine. She’s due back in court March 7.
Capt. John Cartledge said that, on Jan. 14, detectives responded to Rivera’s home, 42 Stoddard St., to investigate her report of a prescription bottle of Tramadol allegedly taken during a break-in the same day.
Inside the same cabinet where Rivera told police the Tramadol was supposed to be located was a bag containing three smaller bags of cocaine.
Police also said they recovered two rolled-up dollar bills with cocaine residue inside Rivera’s cabinet. Speaking with investigators at the Northampton Police Department on Monday, Rivera told police she could not explain the presence of the cocaine in her cabinet, according to the report.
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com.