Federal officials have reported that a female officer from the NYPD, who previously expressed her affection for her job, has been arrested this week for allegedly trafficking significant amounts of narcotics, including heroin and fentanyl, while on duty.
According to Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of New York, Grace Rose Baez and Cesar Martinez of Yonkers were taken into custody and accused of conspiring to distribute narcotics as well as distributing narcotics.
According to authorities, Baez, aged 37, and Martinez, aged 42, were accused of attempting to sell drugs to a federal informant from October 9th to October 29th.
According to officials, on Tuesday, Baez, a resident of the Bronx, provided the informant with a sample of what she claimed to be “top quality” fentanyl in a Mentos candy container.
According to the information provided, the informant was informed by her that a kilo of heroin could be purchased for $25,000, and negotiations could be made later for the pricing of 800 grams of fentanyl, depending on the drug’s purity.
Officials stated that Baez, who has been a police officer since 2012, had several meetings with the informant.
According to federal authorities, she was simultaneously carrying out desk duty at an NYPD facility and coordinating meetings while haggling prices for the sale of “kilogram quantities of narcotics.”
On Thursday, Baez met up with a criminal informant in Yonkers and gave them packages that were suspected to contain narcotics. Included in these packages were a kilogram and 400 grams of heroin, as well as 640 grams of fentanyl that was labeled as 640 Manzana. Law enforcement officials arrested Baez on the same day.
Officials have reported that when officers arrested Baez, they proceeded to search the Yonkers residence that she shared with Martinez. During the search, they discovered that a package of suspected narcotics was being discarded from the apartment.
Authorities discovered a kilogram press machine and further quantities of narcotics that Martinez had tried to discard outside, according to reports.
In 2020, Baez was placed on modified duty by the NYPD following allegations of misconduct against her.
In 2022, Baez earned a total of $96,715, which is lower compared to her previous years’ earnings. This can be attributed to the fact that she worked fewer hours on desk duty, resulting in a decrease in her overtime pay.
After being arrested, Baez was suspended without pay. Martinez, who is 37 years old, could also face several years in prison.
In 2020, Baez took to Instagram to share his experience of working as a cop.
At Graciela_Rose, the sentiment is clear – there is no need to apologize for pursuing a career that brings joy. The website maintains that one should be proud of choosing a profession they love.
“I’m not one of those bad apples,” is what I want to make clear.
According to Williams, Baez has blatantly disregarded her oath of office by promoting the use of deadly drugs such as fentanyl and heroin, which are major contributors to the nationwide opioid crisis and countless tragic deaths in the city and beyond.
According to Police Commissioner Edward Caban, if found guilty, Baez has “tarnished the shield that she wore.”
He expressed deep concern over the charges, emphasizing that the NYPD has zero tolerance for corruption. The allegations are unacceptable and go against the integrity and reputation of the police department.
