Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard reports Deputies arrested several subjects after several traffic stop this past weekend.

NARCOTICS

April 7, 4:40 P.M., Town of Grand Island – a traffic stop was conducted by Deputy Zamorek at Love and South State Parkway roads for running a red light.  The Deputy detected a strong odor of marijuana when he approached the vehicle and discovered the operator’s license was revoked for failing to comply with court orders related to a DWI arrest.  Carlos Taylor, 19, of Grand Island was placed into custody. During a search of the suspect marijuana and a pipe containing marijuana was discovered.  A search of the vehicle found another glass pipe, a glass jar of marijuana and a quantity of concentrated cannabis.  Taylor is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, criminal possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and a vehicle and traffic violation.  Cassandra Mazzone, 20, of Grand Island is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance.  Both defendants were released on appearance tickets for Grand Island Town Court.

April 7, 10:12 P.M., Town of Grand Island – Deputy Zamorek conducted a traffic stop on South State Parkway for vehicle and traffic violations.  Deputy Zamorek discovered the operator’s license was suspended and took the individual into custody.  During a search of the vehicle, the Deputy discovered plastic bags with cocaine residue and a scale also with cocaine residue.  The driver, David Homa, 33, of Grand Island and the female passenger, Kerry Donohue, 36, of Grand Island were both arrested.  Homa is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of criminal use of drug paraphernalia, aggravated unlicensed operation and an equipment violation.  Donohue is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of criminal use of drug paraphernalia.  Both defendants were released on appearance tickets for Grand Island Town Court.

April 8, 1:25 A.M., Town of Boston – While patrolling Route 219 Deputy Bauer observed a vehicle with equipment violations and initiated a traffic stop on near Rice Road.  The Deputy discovered the operator’s license has three suspensions and detained Darrin Lichy, 27, of Salamanca.  A search discovered 1-gram of crack cocaine which Lichy admitted was his; he was subsequently arrested and charged with a felony count of criminal possession of cocaine, aggravated unlicensed operation, and two equipment violations.  Lichy was taken to the Erie County Holding Center and later released on $300.00 bail.

April 8, 1:51 A.M., Town of Brant – Deputies Christian and Hyde stopped a vehicle on Southwestern Boulevard for vehicle and traffic violations.  Deputy Hyde spoke with the driver, and Deputy Christian spoke to the passenger.  Their investigation discovered Robert Wallens’ licensed was revoked; both individuals were detained, and a search of the vehicle was conducted.  The Deputies discovered Wallens, 35, of Holland possessed Suboxone strips and the passenger, Rachel Organski, 31, of Delevan possessed multiple marijuana cigarettes and a plastic container of marijuana. 

Wallens is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, aggravated unlicensed operation, possession a controlled substance not in the original container, and two equipment violations.  Organski is charged with marijuana possession; both defendants were released on appearance tickets for Brant Town Court. 

April 8, 5:24 P.M., Town of Tonawanda – Deputy Ginnane stopped a vehicle on Two Mile Creek Road for vehicle and traffic violations.  During the Deputy’s investigation, the driver, Poe Lweh, 21, of Buffalo handed a plastic bag to the Deputy; inside the bag was a glass pipe. The passenger, Min Kyaw, 25, of Buffalo was found to be in possession of two glass pipes.  A search of the vehicle discovered two additional glass pipes; all the pipes contained crack cocaine residue.  Both subjects were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and were later released on appearance tickets for Tonawanda Town Court.

April 9, 1:59 A.M., City of Buffalo – Deputies Bauer and Zamorek stopped a vehicle at Stanley Place and Bailey Avenue for vehicle and traffic violations.  An investigation revealed the driver, Zaid Alhariri, 22, of Lackawanna had his licensed suspended in April of 2015, and he was taken into custody.  The Deputies searched the vehicle and discovered a crack pipe with cocaine residue in the back seat area.  The passenger, Patrick Blachowicz, 47, of West Seneca admitted the pipe was his, and he was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. Alhariri is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation and a vehicle and traffic violation.  Both defendants were released on appearance tickets for Buffalo City Court.

April 9, 7:26 P.M., Town of Sardinia – Deputy Zamorek initiated a traffic stop on Creek Road for vehicle and traffic violations.  The Deputy’s investigation revealed that the operator’s license was revoked for a previous alcohol-related conviction as well as several violations.  Mark Franz, 47, of Arcade was arrested and a search of the vehicle was conducted.  The search discovered Suboxone, and Franz is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, aggravated unlicensed operation and three separate vehicle and traffic violations.  The subject was released on appearance tickets for Sardinia Town Court.

April 9, 9:58 P.M., Village of Springville – Deputy Thurston stopped a vehicle for vehicle and traffic violations on South Cascade Road.  While interviewing the driver, the Deputy observed a straw with white residue, and the following search discovered another straw with residue, hydrocodone, Xanax pills and cocaine. Arrested and charged were Donald Currie, Jr., 51, of Ashford and Elaine Monnin, 36, of Cattaraugus.  Currie, the driver, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal use of drug paraphernalia, possessing a controlled substance not in the original container and vehicle and traffic violations.  Monnin is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal use of drug paraphernalia, possessing a controlled substance not in the original container.  Both individuals were released on appearance tickets for Springville Village Court.

DWI

April 8, 4:28 A.M., Town of Alden – after observing a vehicle swerve and an occupant throw litter out of the vehicle’s driver side, Deputy Szkatulski initiated a traffic stop.  The Deputy administered field sobriety tests to Mercedes Azzaretto, 25, of Alden; when she failed the tests, she was arrested.  The driver is charged with DWI, throwing refuse onto a highway and three other vehicle and traffic violations.  She was released to a sober third party.

April 8, 4:31, City of Buffalo – Deputy Zamorek pulled over Ashley Barlow after observing the vehicle she was operating swerve on Interstate 190 near Vulcan Street.  Barlow submitted to and failed field sobriety tests and was ultimately arrested.  During the search of her vehicle, the Deputy discovered a plastic straw, baggie, and glass vial containing cocaine. She is charged with DWI, criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony count of aggravated unlicensed operation, and three vehicle and traffic violations and was taken to the Erie County Holding Center and later release after posting $1,500.00 bond.

April 8, 10:17 P.M., Town of Grand Island – While investigating a possible road rage incident Deputy Pauly stopped a vehicle on South State Parkway near Broadway.  While interviewing the driver, the Deputy detected the odor of alcohol.  After failing field sobriety tests, Gregory Conley, 66, of Grand Island was arrested and charged with DWI; he was later released on tickets.

April 9, 1:04 A.M, Town of Grand Island – Deputy Pauly stopped a vehicle on Interstate 190 near South State Parkway for equipment violations.  When speaking with the driver, the Deputy detected the oder of alcohol coming from the vehicle.  Thomas Salverson was told to exit the vehicle and conducted standard field sobriety tests were then performed. In addition, a preliminary breath test was performed which indicated positive results for alcohol.  Salverson is charged with DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, and a vehicle and traffic violation.  The defendant was later released.

April 9, 1:29 A.M., Town of Collins – while patrolling Taylor Hollow Road, Deputy Christian observed a vehicle lose control and rollover into a field.  The driver exited the vehicle, and EMS personnel were called to examine Christian Delany, 35, of Collins.  While speaking with the driver, the Deputy detected the strong odor of alcohol; a breath test indicated a BAC level nearly twice the legal limit.  Delany was arrested and charged with DWI, reckless driving, and five vehicle and traffic violations.  Delany refused additional medical treatment and was released to a sober third party.

April 9, 4:35 A.M., City of Buffalo – Deputy Zamorek observed a vehicle near Joslyn and Austin streets driving on the wrong side of the road nearly strike an oncoming vehicle.  The Deputy initiated a traffic stop, and when he began speaking with the driver, a strong odor of alcohol could be detected.  Alexis Alicea-Torres failed field sobriety tests, and a preliminary breath test indicating a BAC level of more twice the legal limit.  She was arrested and charged with aggravated DWI and two vehicle and traffic infractions.  She was later released on appearance tickets for the City of Buffalo.