Friendship man faces felony drug counts after stop on I-390...friend who ran tackled by K9

Burch

INTERSTATE 390: Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty reports the arrest of two men for drug related felony charges following a traffic stop on Interstate 390. On March 27 Deputy Shawn Whitford was assigned to the Sheriff’s Operation Safe Interstate initiative on Interstate 390 when he stopped a vehicle for violations of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law.

The Deputy Sheriff identified the driver of the vehicle as 31-year-old Cody J. Burch of Friendship, NY and the passenger in the vehicle as 28-year-old David L. Heath from Rochester NY.  While the Deputy Sheriff was patting Heath down outside the vehicle, Heath attempted to flee on foot. Heath crossed the four (4) lanes of traffic across the Interstate and was taken into custody on the east side of the Interstate after a state police K9 apprehended him.

Heath

It was determined through the investigation and now alleged that Heath threw marijuana on the ground as he was running away; the marijuana was recovered by the Deputies.

As the investigation continued it was discovered that Burch and Heath were allegedly in possession of crack cocaine in the vehicle. In total, police said 12 bags of crack cocaine were found in separate areas of the vehicle weighing over 14 grams.Deputies arrested and charged the passenger, David Heath, with felony Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree, felony Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree, Obstruction of Governmental Administration in the 2nd Degree, Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, and Possessing an Open Container of Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle.

Deputies arrested and charged the driver, Cody Burch, with felony Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree and felony Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree.

Burch and Heath were both later arraigned in the Town of Avon Court before Judge Torregiano. The Judge remanded both Burch and Heath to the custody of the Sheriff; Burch on $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 bond and Heath on $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond.

Several members of the Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol Division were on scene assisting under the command of Sheriff’s Sergeant Matthew Orman. State Police members also assisted on scene, including Trooper TJ McDonnell of SP Geneseo, who assisted by providing valuable information to Deputy Whitford regarding the vehicle on Interstate 390, as well as utilizing his K9 partner Mic in the apprehension of Heath.