The would-be drug buyers used an ATM inside a police station to get cash for the cocaine deal, authorities said.
First they tried to score cocaine from an off-duty cop in front of the Hartford Police Department — then they used the station’s ATM to get cash for the deal, authorities said.
Noah Yankowski and Zachary Pillarella, both 21, approached an officer who was just getting off work and asked if they could “buy coke” from him, according to a department statement.
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The policeman said he would only accept cash for the buy and directed the pair to an ATM inside his station, authorities said.
As one of the men withdrew $60 from the machine, the officer tipped off a colleague at the front desk, according to police.
The two were arrested and charged with criminal attempt to possess narcotics and conspiracy to possess narcotics, authorities said.
Both were released on $5,000 bail, according to online court records, and are scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 3.
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Neither has entered a plea.
“While given their inexperience, they are likely not addicts,” Deputy Chief Brian Foley said. “At any rate, hopefully they get the help need, and this arrest will steer them away from narcotics in the future."
“Our police station abuts the downtown bar section, and the bars close at 2,” Foley told InsideEdition.com, noting that the incident happened at 2:15 a.m.
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