A routine traffic stop on Albany Street turned into a drug arrest that netted nine different types of narcotics, as well as drug paraphernalia and weapons, by the Cazenovia Village Police Department.
The incident occurred at 2:30 a.m. on June 17, when Cazenovia police pulled over a Chevy Trailblazer on Albany Street because the car had no license plate lamps. Officers discovered that both the driver, Michael J. Victory, 46, of Syracuse, and his passenger, Jamie L. Prevo, 33, of Syracuse, had suspended licenses. Officers also noticed multiple hypodermic needles on the floor of the car, Hayes said.
Cazenovia police officers, assisted by New York State Police troopers, then interviewed and searched both occupants of the car, during which Prevo allegedly admitted that she had various drugs in her purse, according to the police report.
Police ultimately found in the car and on Prevo’s person a variety of narcotic drugs and other items, including, according to police: crack cocaine, heroin, mushrooms, marijuana, six different types of controlled substances in pill form, 18 hypodermic needles, two glass crack pipes, one pair of brass knuckles and two welfare benefit cards that were not in either of the car passengers’ names.
“It’s a street-level, dealer-size pinch,” said Cazenovia Police Chief Michael Hayes. “We’re not sure of the perpetrator was dealing, although the variety of drugs makes me wonder. There’s no information that she was bringing it into Cazenovia or Madison County; she was driving through Cazenovia only.”
Prevo was arrested for 11 counts of criminal possessions of drugs and weapons. She was arraigned in Cazenovia court and ordered held in Madison County Jail on $10,000 bail. Victory was issued traffic violations tickets and released. The Chevy Trailblazer driven during the arrest is in the process of being seized by the Cazenovia Police Department because it was used to commit the felony of transportation of drugs.
Just two days earlier, Cazenovia police also arrested their no. 1 most wanted criminal, Jonathan R. Dennis, 34, of Syracuse, after both a high-speed vehicle and foot chase through Syracuse. Dennis had previously been arrested for various drug-related felonies, and after he jumped bail and failed to appear in court for his sentencing hearing he became wanted by the Cazenovia police.
According to Hayes, Cazenovia police officers tracked Dennis down and tried to stop him on the road in Syracuse. A brief, high-speed pursuit occurred after which Dennis got out of his car and ran away on foot; officers pursued but were unable to apprehend him, Hayes said. With help from the City of Syracuse police and the town of Richland police, Cazenovia officers developed other leads that led to Dennis’ ultimate capture.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at [email protected].
