Police say suspected methamphetamine arrest led to additional felony charge
UTICA, N.Y. — A routine traffic stop in Utica took an unexpected turn when police said a driver gave officers a false identity that was exposed after fingerprint results came back.
The stop occurred at approximately 11:40 p.m. July 29 in the 700 block of South Street.
According to the Utica Police Department, officers assigned to the Tactical Unit stopped a vehicle for New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law violations.
During the investigation, officers located a quantity of suspected methamphetamine and arrested two people, police said.
After being taken to the Utica Police Department, one of the suspects allegedly provided booking officers with a false name. Police said the individual was booked, fingerprinted and photographed under that identity.
When fingerprint results were returned, investigators determined the name was false and identified the suspect as 33-year-old Branden Ward of Morris.
Ward was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree forgery.
Police did not release information about the second person arrested or whether additional charges are pending.
The charges are allegations, and Ward is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Key Points
- Utica police arrested two people after a traffic stop on South Street.
- Investigators said fingerprint results revealed one suspect had provided a false identity.
- Branden Ward, 33, was charged with drug possession and second-degree forgery.