INTERSTATE 390: Livingston County Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty
reports the arrest of a Nunda, NY resident on felony charges after a traffic
stop.
On July 29, 2019 Deputy Shawn Whitford was assigned to the
Sheriff’s Office Operation Safe Interstate initiative when he stopped a vehicle
on Interstate 390 for a violation of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law.
The operator of the vehicle was identified as 32-year-old
Danae R. Gomez. A records check revealed that Gomez’s driving privileges had
been suspended or revoked a total of seven (7) times. Gomez was taken into
custody for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the 2nd
Degree.
The Deputy Sheriff further suspected that Gomez was involved
in drug activity and conducted a roadside drug investigation. It is alleged
that during the roadside investigation, Gomez ingested a quantity of fentanyl
in an attempt to prevent the Sheriff’s Deputy from discovering that she was in
possession of it.
Gomez was then arrested and additionally charged with the
felony of Tampering with Physical Evidence.
Gomez was turned over to Central Booking Deputies at the
Livingston County Jail for processing and pre-arraignment detention. Gomez was
later arraigned at the Livingston County Centralized Arraignment Part (LC-CAP)
at the Livingston County Jail before Town of Caledonia Justice Mark Riggi. The
Judge remanded Gomez to the custody of the Sheriff on bail of $3,000 cash or
$6,000 bond.
The Child Abuse Hotline (CPS referral) was contacted/made by
the Sheriff’s Office due to Gomez being pregnant. Unfortunately, due to the
child not being born, the state agency was unable to accept the referral at
this time. Sheriff’s Deputies did transport Gomez to the hospital for medical
treatment.
Assisting with the traffic stop was Deputy Connor Sanford,
Deputy Morganne Harrington, and Deputy Caleb Cutting with his narcotics
certified K-9 partner Kai.
