DEPUTIES SEIZE LARGE QUANTITY OF HEROIN ON TRAFFIC STOP
Greenport, NY- Columbia County Sheriff David P. Bartlett reports that a Brooklyn man was arrested on Wednesday April 5, 2017 for a felony drug charge after a vehicle stop for traffic infractions on Fairview Avenue in the Town of Greenport.
On April 5, 2017 at approximately 6:05pm, Deputy Peter Merante was on routine patrol and observed a 2016 Nissan Altima traveling northbound on Fairview Avenue with no front license plate and dark tinted side windows. The Deputy initiated a traffic stop and approached the vehicle where he encountered three occupants. During the traffic stop, 21 bundles, which consisted of 203 individual doses of heroin was located in the vehicle. A bundle typically consists of 10 bags of heroin. The street value for 203 doses is about $2,000.00.
All three occupants of the vehicle were transported back to the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s Office Investigators assisted in the investigation, which led to 25 year old Peter R. Medina (a.k.a. Smooth) of Brooklyn N.Y., being arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree w/ intent to sell, a Class B Felony. Medina was arraigned before the Honorable Judge Brandon in Claverack Town Court and remanded to the Columbia County Jail with no bail. The defendant is scheduled to appear in Greenport Town Court at a later date. The investigation is continuing and additional charges are possible.
A second passenger, 31 year old Katie M. Murray of Durham N.Y., was arrested and charged with Possession of a Hypodermic Instrument, a Class A Misdemeanor. She was released on an appearance ticket returnable to Greenport Town Court on April 10, 2017.
The driver of the vehicle, 30 year old David A. Meadows of Greenport N.Y., was arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor, for being found in possession of a small quantity of cocaine. He was also charged with failure to display front license plate and side windows non transparent, both Infractions. He was issued an appearance ticket returnable to Greenport Town Court on April 10, 2017.
Assisting Deputy Peter Merante were Senior Investigator William Foster, Investigator Patrick Logue, and Deputy Jordan Brahm. Also assisting with this case were the Greenport Police Department and the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office.
Sheriff Bartlett states, “My agency will continue to pursue and investigate individuals who are involved in the distribution of all narcotics, with the priority on individuals who are dealing heroin. Heroin is responsible for the increase in numerous death cases in the region. Individuals dealing heroin will be targeted by my office and we will use all resources available to investigate, prosecute and ultimately convict the individuals spreading this poison throughout the area. I am urging anyone with any information in regards to illegal drug trafficking to contact the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip Line at 518-828-8477. All tips received are anonymous
