UTICA, N.Y. – A routine vehicle stop in the city’s Cornelia Place area Wednesday afternoon led to the discovery of a significant amount of suspected cocaine and the arrest of three individuals, according to the Utica Police Department.
Officers with the Crime Prevention Unit stopped a vehicle around 5 p.m. on October 8 for New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law violations tied to an ongoing narcotics investigation.
During the stop, officers observed three occupants and noticed several open containers of alcohol inside the vehicle.
After asking the occupants to step out, police conducted a search and located a loose white powder believed to be cocaine, followed by a larger quantity found inside a bag within the cabin.
Additional drugs found at police station
All three suspects were detained and transported to police headquarters. While being searched by a female officer, the female passenger was found to have additional suspected cocaine in her pocket, authorities said.
Investigators with the Special Investigations Unit were called in to assist with processing and charging the suspects based on the amount of contraband recovered.
Suspects face felony drug charges
Police identified the individuals as Brian Stanistreet, 39, of Holland Patent; Brooke Edwards, 43, of Utica; and Michael Williams, 29, of Utica.
Stanistreet and Williams were each charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth and Seventh Degrees, while Edwards faces charges of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third and Seventh Degrees.
Authorities said the investigation remains active and additional charges may follow pending lab results.
A simple traffic stop turned into a major narcotics bust on a quiet Utica street.
