Cops: Drug buy made in front of police station

Since their brilliant plan to conduct a drug transaction in front of a suburban police station at Christmastime fell through yesterday, these ding dongs are far from merrily on high.

Around 10 a.m., police said Bruno Gallo, 50, and his girlfriend, both of whom are from Philadelphia, pulled up in front of an Upper Darby police mini station on 69th Street near Market in their white BMW and parked in a spot marked for police vehicles only.

Two bicycle cops who were in the mini station watched from inside as a man, later identified as 21-year-old Joshua Ramirez, approached the vehicle, police said. The officers then watched as Gallo and Ramirez conducted a hand-to-hand drug transaction of seven bags of heroin, said police Superintendent Michael Chitwood.

Somehow, this brilliant trio was surprised when police officers came out of the police station they were parked in front of to arrest them. Ramirez, of Philadelphia, took off on foot but was quickly apprehended, police said. Gallo and his girlfriend were taken into custody at the scene.

Gallo's girlfriend, whose name has not been released, was not charged with a crime, Chitwood said. Gallo was charged with possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy and related offenses while Ramirez was charged with drug trafficking, conspiracy and related offenses.

"They went Christmas shopping for dope on 69th Street and got locked up," Chitwood said. "So Merry Christmas to them from the Upper Darby Police Department."