NEW YORK, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Two New York plumbers were jailed after two police officers mistook a bag of candy for crack, authorities said.

"Sweet happens," the New York Post Saturday quoted an unapologetic police source as saying of the mistake.


After Jose Pena and Cesar Rodriguez had gone into a liquor/convenience store to buy their usual coconut candy, two officers waiting outside asked to search their minivan.

"I said, 'Go search.' I even opened the door," Rodriguez said.

One officer rummaged around and, after finding a "Hello Kitty" sandwich bag with a crumbled substance inside, allegedly shouted "Bingo!"

The two plumbers were handcuffed and taken into custody even though the officers could have realized their mistake on the spot, the men's lawyer told the Post.

"That's the reason why they have a field-test kit," Neal Wallerstein said.

Pena was released after three days in custody and Rodriguez after five, the Post said.

"I didn't know having candy was a crime," Rodriguez said.