On August 9, 2017 Deputy Connor Sanford, who is a member of
the Sheriff’s Office STOP DWI Unit, was patrolling I-390 as part of the
Operation Safe Interstate Initiative.
The Deputy Sheriff stopped a vehicle on the Interstate for a vehicle and
traffic law violation. The operator, 21-year- old Ronald J. Clark, was believed
to be operating under the influence of drugs and a roadside DWAI Drug
investigation was launched.
Following the investigation Clark was placed under arrest
for Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs. During the course of the
investigation, items of drug paraphernalia were discovered in the vehicle, as
well as pair of brass knuckles, which are illegal to possess in New York State.
This led to an additional charge of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 4th
Degree.
Clark was then taken to Sheriff's Office Headquarters in
Geneseo where Deputy Brandan Flickner, who is a Certified Drug Recognition
Expert, conducted an evaluation on Clark. It was the Deputy’s Expert Opinion
that Clark was under the influence of a central nervous system stimulant, a narcotic
analgesic, and cannabis and that he could not operate a vehicle safely. Clark did also provide a urine sample to be
sent to the lab for analysis.
Clark was turned over to Central Booking Deputies at the
Livingston County Jail for processing and he will appear in court at a later
date.
