Man caught with felony-weight drugs hidden in pants during Utica traffic stop
Utica, NY – A roadside traffic stop by Utica police led to the discovery of felony-weight narcotics hidden in a man’s pants after officers noted suspicious behavior and conflicting stories from the vehicle’s occupants, authorities said.
The stop happened around 8:00 p.m. on Saturday near Burrstone Road and Sarah Street, where officers from the Crime Prevention Unit and Patrol Division were conducting narcotics enforcement. During questioning, the individuals inside the vehicle gave inconsistent accounts of where they had been, prompting officers to investigate further.
After initially surrendering drug-smoking devices, one of the occupants — identified as 42-year-old Fredrick Canfield of Garratsville — was found to have concealed narcotics on his body. Officers transported Canfield to the Utica Police Department, where it was confirmed the substances exceeded felony weight thresholds.
Following the investigation, Canfield was charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the fourth degree, and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the seventh degree.
The department did not disclose the specific type of drug recovered but confirmed the charges were based on weight and classification under state law.
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Key Points
- Fredrick Canfield, 42, was found with felony-weight narcotics hidden in his pants during a traffic stop in Utica
- The stop was initiated after suspicious behavior and conflicting statements from vehicle occupants
- Canfield was charged with three narcotics-related offenses and remains under investigation
