Whoever coined the phrase ‘nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike’ probably didn’t have in mind plain clothes police on cycle patrols veering across to stop a drug dealer, also on a bike. “You got anything on you you shouldn’t have,” said one of the police officers as he quizzed Bruno Rodrigues.
“White and dark,” replied Rodrigues.
“How much we talking,” says the police officer.
Rodrigues replies: “Two hundred, three hundred maybe.”
The conversation has been released by Cambridgeshire Police in a video posted to YouTube today showing the body cam footage from the arrest and detention of Rodrigues.
Later the officer asks: “So there’s needles in there and they are all capped yeh?”
Rodrigues replies: “Yeah yeah yeah all capped in a needle pouch thing.”
Officers from Peterborough’s eastern Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) were in the Central Park area on the night of 8 August this year, in response to concerns reported by the community about drug dealing.
The team spotted what they believed was about to be a drug deal directly in front of All Saints Church, so intercepted and searched 40-year-old Rodrigues.
When asked if he had anything on him, he shouldn’t have, he replied “yes, drugs” and stated he had wraps of “white and dark” on him, right before the officers found a black plastic bag containing 83 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine in one of his trouser pockets.
Rodrigues, of no fixed address, appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on Tuesday where he was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years, after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine.
He must also complete a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) and a six-month drugs rehabilitation requirement (DRR).
Rodrigues also admitted 11 counts of theft from a shop relating to the theft of £848 worth of alcohol from Tesco in Werrington Centre, Peterborough, throughout March and April this year.
Detective Constable Angus Cashman said: “This was a great spot by the neighbourhood officers who were in the right place at the right time, responding to concerns and information from the local community.
“Tackling drug use, dealing, and associated anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of Park Road has been set as a priority for the eastern Peterborough Neighbourhood Policing Team to focus on. Information from the public helps us target our patrols and gather evidence which ultimately disrupts people like Rodrigues and takes harmful substances off our streets.”
Anyone with information or concerns about drugs can report online via the dedicated drugs information webpage.
