Police charge two with crack possession in Merrick

Two men were arrested and charged in a crack cocaine deal that allegedly took place in a Burger King parking lot on Merrick Road in Merrick on July 22 at 6:35 p.m., police said.

According to detectives, officers from the Nassau County Police Narcotics Vice squad watched as Michael Grandberry, 41, of Freeport, went to the parking lot of the Burger King where he worked and allegedly sold crack to an unnamed subject. A short time later, police reported seeing Grandberry enter a vehicle that was waiting for him. Detectives said they stopped the vehicle on Merrick Road and found the driver, Memphis Hightower Jr., 42, Freeport, in possession of a crack stem and crack cocaine.

Grandberry was charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance and was set to be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on July 23. Hightower was charged with possession of a controlled substance and was released on a desk appearance ticket. He is due in court on Aug. 9.