INTERSTATE 390- Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty reports the
arrest of a Belmont man on drug charges after a traffic stop.
On December 2nd Deputy Shawn Whitford was assigned to the
Sheriff’s Operation Safe Interstate initiative. The Deputy Sheriff conducted a
traffic stop on Interstate 390 for a violation of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic
Law.
During the roadside interview the Deputy Sheriff identified
the driver as Matthew Bender, age 49 from Belmont. Bender allegedly admitted to
being in possession of crack cocaine and heroin which were seized as evidence.
Bender was taken into custody for two counts of criminal
possession of a controlled substance in the 7th Degree; one for the one (1) bag
of heroin and the other for the three (3) bags of cocaine. Bender was
transported to Central Booking at the Livingston County Jail for processing and
pre-arraignment detention. Bender was later arraigned in the Livingston County
Central Arraignment Part (LC-CAP) at the Livingston County Jail by Ossian Town
Justice Wilson. The Judge released Bender on his own recognizance.