Yates drug arrest Friday highlights growing trend

Friday at 1:00 pm Yates County Sheriff Investigators Manahan, Backer and Sotir arrested Michelle Gause, age 27 of 5790 Rte 14-A, Dundee, NY for Criminal Sale of a controlled substance 3rd degree (two counts) and Criminal Possession of Controlled Substance 3rd degree (two counts) both charges are class “B” felonies. The charges result from Gause possessing and selling to a police agent fentanyl and oxycodone (narcotics). Investigation into this incident began in summer of 2010. She was arraigned in the Town of Milo court and remanded to the Yates county Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond and is to reappear in the village of Penn Yan court for further proceedings. “Drug related cases in Yates County for the same period of time in 2009/10 to 2010/11 have more than doubled, especially for possession of controlled substances as our patrol Deputy Sheriffs and Investigators have been hard working on increased contact with this crime,” said Sheriff Ron Spike, “The abuse and illegal sale of prescription medicine is still the prevalent problem, as marihuana possession remains constant, yet it is most disturbing to see the presence of heroin being sold in our community as evidence by recent arrests.” YATES COUNTY SHERIFF”S OFFICELast 6 month period – 10/1/10 thru 3/31/11Drug Possession cases = 44Drug Sale cases = 13-as compared to previous year same period-6 month period – 10/1/09 thru 3/31/10DRUG POSSESSION CASES = 18DRUG SALE CASES = 9The prevalent prescription drug abuse is oxycontin, vicodin, fentanyl, and a new pain medicine we are seeing abused called opana (oxymorphone). The YCSO K9 unit deputy’s and dog team’s along with the recent addition of a narcotic detector dog has also added to the arrests and seizures county-wide. Sheriff Spike added “The Sheriff’s CID (Criminal Investigation Division), supervised by Lt. Todd Sotir works closely with the Penn Yan Police and other agencies in the investigation of illegal drug activity and I urge anyone to report suspected illegal drug activity by calling anonymously the TIP HOTLINE at 536-5558 or call 911.