Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports that a Putnam Valley man is facing drug charges following a traffic stop in the town. Mr. Keith J. Matthews, aged 33, of 55 Oak Ridge Drive, was arrested on October 10^th after deputies pulled him over on the Taconic State Parkway in Putnam Valley.

At about 3:20 p.m. on October 10th, deputies reportedly observed Mr. Matthews speeding in a car on the parkway and pulled him over. During the course of the stop, the deputies found that he was allegedly in possession of quantities of Oxycodone pills, Tamazepam pills, Suboxone and marihuana, all controlled substances for which he did not have a valid prescription.

Mr. Matthews was charged with multiple counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth and seventh degrees, felonies, and unlawful possession of marihuana, a misdemeanor. He was also cited for speeding.

The defendant was arraigned before Carmel Town Justice Thomas Jacobellis, acting on behalf of the Putnam Valley Justice Court. The judge remanded him to the county jail in lieu of $20,000.00 cash bail or $40,000.00 bail bond, pending further proceedings in the Putnam Valley Justice Court. He remained held in the jail as of the time of this News Release.