DRUG DEALER OPERATING IN THE VILLAGE OF CHATHAM ARRESTED
Sheriff David P. Bartlett reports that two individuals have been arrested in connection with illegal drug activity in the Village of Chatham.
This investigation began after the Sheriff’s Office started receiving several tips from Chatham residents reporting possible illegal drug activity in the village. Undercover Investigators focused on the Locust Street area and developed information and leads, which revealed that this illegal drug activity was the sales and distribution of cocaine.
On Thursday, October 5, 2017 at approximately 4:33pm, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit with the assistance of the Columbia-Greene Shared Services Response Team executed a search warrant, which was issued by the Honorable Columbia County Court Judge Jonathan Nichols, at 16 Locust Street in the Village of Chatham. As a result of this investigation, two suspects were arrested.
Lawrence W. Posey, age 40, of Broad Street Swedesboro New Jersey, was arrested and charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree with intent to sell, both Class B Felonies. Posey was arraigned in Greenport Town Court before the Honorable Judge Hill and was remanded to the Columbia County Jail with no bail. He will appear in the Chatham Village Court on October 10, 2017.
While executing the search warrant, Mr. Posey attempted to flee while resisting arrest with a Sheriff’s Office Investigator. The Investigator was injured and further charges are pending against the defendant.
Kayla M. Hanson, age 27, of Locust Street Chatham New York, was also arrested and charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree with intent to sell, both Class B Felonies. In addition, she was charged with one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A Misdemeanor, for having her child present during the illicit drug activity. Hanson was arraigned in Greenport Town Court before the Honorable Judge Hill and was remanded to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $500 bail. She is scheduled to appear in Chatham Village Court on October 10, 2017.
Information received through the investigation indicated that the suspect, Lawrence Posey, traveled from New Jersey to the Village Of Chatham to sell drugs. Approximately 20 grams of cocaine was seized from the Locust Street location along with packaging materials, scales, and other drug paraphernalia. The cocaine has a street value of about $2,000.
Assisting the Sheriff’s Office with this investigation were the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office, Hudson Police Department, Capital District Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Columbia County Probation Department.
Sheriff Bartlett states” this is a perfect example of when the public gets involved we see results. As I have said in the past it takes a community to save our community. Our greatest assets are the eyes and ears on the street. Please continue to call the Sheriff’s Office with any information about illegal activity. Our tip line (518)828-8477 (TIPS) is totally confidential. We will continue to target and continue to go after these dealers spreading this poison on our streets”.
