Needles Full of Heroin, Cocaine, 2lbs of Marijuana Recovered

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard reports the Narcotics Unit was called to expand a drug investigation that stemmed from a traffic stop in Grand Island Thursday night.

Around 7:23 P.M., Deputy Bauer initiated a traffic stop on South State Parkway near Interstate 190 after observing a vehicle and traffic violation.  The Deputy identified the four occupants and discovered the vehicle’s driver, Shane Corter, was wanted by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office from a previous narcotics investigation.  Corter and the three passengers exited the vehicle, and Deputy Bauer observed four hypodermic needles full of heroin extending from Walter Weber’s pant pocket.  The subsequent search of the vehicle discovered an additional needle loaded with heroin and marijuana. 

Corter, 31, of Grand Island, Weber, 44, of Cheektowaga, and Jessica Polakiewicz, 34, of Grand Island were arrested and charged.  Information was gathered during the stop, and the Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit applied for and received a search warrant from Grand Island Justice Frentzel for Corter and Polakiewicz’s dwelling.

The Narcotics Unit executed the search warrant at a Grand Island Boulevard residence.  During the search, the Narcotics Unit discovered three ounces of cocaine, two pounds of marijuana, a digital scale with cocaine residue, and a stolen .357 handgun; the gun was reported stolen to the New York State Police in Fredonia.

The Narcotics Unit charged Corter with felony counts of criminal possession of a narcotic with intent to sell, criminal possession of marijuana, criminal possession of a loaded firearm, criminal possession of a stolen weapon, as well as a misdemeanor count of criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

Polakiewicz is charged with felony counts of criminal possession of a narcotic with intent to sell, criminal possession of marijuana, criminal possession of a loaded firearm, criminal possession of a stolen weapon, criminal possession of a controlled substance as well as a misdemeanor count of criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

Deputy Bauer transported Weber and Polakiewicz to the Erie County Holding Center, and after the defendants had exited the vehicle, he observed twenty amphetamine pills and a plastic container filled with additional cocaine.

They were both additionally charged with felony counts of criminal possession of cocaine, criminal possession of a stimulant, and concealing evidence.

All three defendants are housed at the holding center pending their arraignment.

The fourth vehicle occupant was not charged.