DEPUTIES SIEZE LARGE QUANTITY OF OPIOIDS ON A TRAFFIC STOP
Valatie, NY- Columbia County Sheriff David P. Bartlett reports that a Troy woman was arrested on Saturday, April 2, 2019 on felony drug charges after a vehicle and traffic stop at the intersection of State Route 203 and Church Street in the Village of Valatie.
At approximately 12:38am, First Sergeant John Rivero and K9 Deputy Jason Garvey were on routine patrol and observed a blue 2012 Dodge Avenger fail to stop for the stop sign at the intersection of State Route 203 and Church Street. The Deputies initiated a traffic stop and identified the operator of the vehicle as Amanda Johnson. A license check of Ms. Johnson revealed that her license was suspended 9 times for various reasons including failing to answer a summons. Operating a motor vehicle while your license is suspended is a misdemeanor charge in New York State. As the Deputies were taking Ms. Johnson into custody they found over 18.35 grams of prescription opioids on her person.
Members of the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigative Branch along with uniformed Deputies continued with the investigation. It was discovered that Ms. Johnson was a former employee of the Grand at Barnwell Nursing Home and had been seen at the facility earlier in the evening. Investigators were able to determine that the large quantity of opioids found on Ms. Johnson had been stolen from a medication lock box located inside The Grand at Barnwell.
Johnson, age 33, of Troy N.Y., was arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (Class B Felony), Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree (Class U Misdemeanor), and Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign (Traffic Infraction). Ms. Johnson was arraigned before the Honorable Judge Jack Mabb in Stockport Town Court and was remanded to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $7,500 bail or $15,000 bond. The defendant is scheduled to appear in Kinderhook Town Court on November 6, 2019 at 4:30pm.
This investigation is continuing and additional charges are possible. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigative Branch at 518-828-4316 and ask to speak with Senior Investigator Kevin Skype or Investigator Patrick Logue.
In addition to 1st Sergeant Rivero and Deputy Garvey, also assisting with this investigation are Senior Investigator Kevin Skype, Investigator Patrick Logue and Deputies Jordan Brahm, Jerald Rowell, and John Sullivan.
