Yorktown Man Arrested for Possession and Sale of Drugs That Led to OD Death in Shrub Oak

Albert Tapia in a 2011 photo, after his arrest for sex abuse of a 13-year old

By Dan Murphy

Yorktown Police announced an arrest of a Yorktown resident for the criminal possession and sale of a controlled substance that led to the death of a man in Shrub Oak in October 2023. Albert Tapia was arrested on Feb. 15 and is in the Westchester County jail awaiting his next court appearance before Yorktown Justice Aviah Cohen-Pierson.

On October 26, 2023, at approximately 3:00 PM, Yorktown Police responded to a residence on East Main St. for an apparent fatal overdose. Yorktown Police Detective Hannigan was assigned to investigate the incident.  Upon conclusion of the investigation, it is alleged that the defendant possessed and then sold a quantity of a controlled substances to the victim, which allegedly resulted in the victim’s death. 

Tapia, 30, was charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell 3rd Degree, both of which are Class “B” Felonies, as well as Criminal Contempt in the 2nd Degree, a Class “A” Misdemeanor.  

According to the YPD, Tapia was arrested by Det. Hannigan and PO Montero during a vehicle and traffic stop last week. Furthermore, it is alleged that the defendant violated a duly served and active “Stay Away” Temporary Order of Protection issued by Westchester Family Court which stipulated that the defendant stay away from the listed victim, the operator of the vehicle.

The defendant, unable to post bail at this time, was remanded to Westchester County Jail.  The defendant is due to appear in the Yorktown Justice Court on February 20, 2024 at 6:00 pm.
 
The investigation was assisted by the Westchester County Department of Public Safety Forensic Investigation Unit as well as the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.

In 2011, NYS Police arrested an Albert M. Tapia of Cortlandt Manor for sex abuse with a 13-year old. His mug shot appears at the top of this story.

In 2012, Tapia was arrested in Croton for stabbing two friends during an altercation regarding an xbox controller.

And in 2023, Tapia was arrested for kicking in a glass door at Sunoco-7 Eleven in Jefferson Valley. He was charged with third-degree felony criminal mischief.