Convicted Felon and Passenger found with Meth and a Revolver in a Rented Vehicle

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard reports Deputies arrested 46-year-old Hugh Smith of Boston and Erin O’Connor, 30 of Buffalo, following a traffic stop on Route 39 in the Town of Collins on February 3.

At approximately 1:34 A.M., a Deputy was patrolling Route 39 when he initiated a traffic stop near Jennings Road. During the investigation, the Deputy discovered six suspensions on Hugh Smith’s driver’s license as well as a mandate for an interlock device for any vehicle in which he would operate. The Deputy also discovered a glass methamphetamine pipe in Smith’s possession.

A subsequent search of the vehicle discovered two additional meth pipes, packaging used for narcotics sale, a scale, and a plastic bottle with nearly three grams of crystal meth.  Also discovered was a second bottle with meth residue, four .22 caliber bullets, a loaded .22 caliber revolver, and three containers of alcohol.

Additional Deputies arrived to assist with the incident, and they searched the passenger of the vehicle, O’Connor.  Their search discovered an additional .53 grams of meth and a glass pipe in O’Connor’s coat pocket.

Smith is charged with felony counts of criminal possession of a weapon – due to a previous conviction, criminal possession of a stimulant with intent to sell, criminal possession of a stimulant.  The defendant is also charged with misdemeanor counts of aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, use of a rented vehicle without an interlock device, criminal possession of a controlled substance, and two counts of criminal use of drug paraphernalia.  He was additionally charged with vehicle and traffic violations for no seat belt, operating a vehicle without a license, and drinking alcohol in a vehicle on the highway.

O’Connor is charged with two misdemeanor counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Both defendants were taken to the Erie County Holding Center.  Smith is remanded without bail and O’Connor was released on February 3.

Later on February 3, Deputies filed three additional charged against Smith  – a felony count of unauthorized use of a vehicle, a felony count of defacement of a weapon, and a felony count of criminal possession of stolen property – after it was discovered he was operating a rental vehicle without permission and the serial number of the revolver was defaced.