Alleged drug O.D. leads to 5 arrests
Police say prescription drugs, 'loaded' needles and about 900 marijuana plants were found at residence.
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By PATRICK McARDLE STAFF WRITER - Published: June 6, 2009
BENNINGTON - Two people with Vermont addresses and three from nearby New York are facing charges in both states after police seized about 900 marijuana plants and thousands of dollars worth of prescription drugs during an arrest that started with a reported drug overdose in a Route 7 motel.
David S. Oakes, 26, of Shaftsbury, and Jessica Stratton, 28, of Pownal, were arrested along with her brothers Michael J. Stratton and Mark J. Stratton, 25, and Jason Seifert, 23, of Hoosick, N.Y. Cambridge-Greenwich, N.Y., Police Chief George Bell said that although Jessica Stratton and Oakes gave Vermont addresses, police believe they were also staying at the same home in Hoosick as the other three arrested.
According to Bell, all five people were arraigned on a "bare minimum" of charges while police continue to investigate and decide on what other charges may be filed. Bell said the process was complicated because of multiple agencies and multiple jurisdictions in two states and added that federal charges are being contemplated.
Jessica Stratton and Seifert were charged in Bennington District Court on charges of selling stolen property and selling prescription drugs while Oakes and the Stratton brothers - who are twins - were charged with felony drug crimes in New York, according to Bell.
Bell said the three people whose addresses were listed in New York are also each facing misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of children because there were four children, believed 3 or younger, living at their Breese Hollow Road home in Hoosick. Bell said there were prescription pills in many places through the home, as well as what he called "hot" or "loaded" needles.
Bennington Police Chief Richard Gauthier said a call had come in on Wednesday morning about a possible drug overdose at the Apple Valley Inn.
According to Bell, Jessica Stratton and Seifert were the two people who were treated for drug overdose. Both were taken to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington where they were treated and released, Bell said.
In responding to the overdose call, Bennington police officers saw prescription pills in plain view in the motel room. From there, police obtained a search warrant for a car used by the suspects and found more prescription pills, Bell said
Those seizures gave police in New York probable cause to search the home on Breese Hollow Road.
The prescription drugs are believed to have come from burglaries of O'Hearn's Pharmacy in Cambridge on May 28 or 29 and Thorpe's Pharmacy in April. Bell said about $60,000 in prescription drugs were taken from O'Hearn's and about $16,000 from Thorpe's.
According to Bell, the five people arrested on Wednesday were already suspects in the burglaries.
Police have found other evidence since the arrest linking the five people to the burglaries. For instance, the Hoosick Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire on May 29 around 4 a.m. at the Breese Hollow home. Bell said some of the suspects told police that they were burning the original packaging of the prescription drugs taken from O'Hearn's.
Bell called the arrests the result of good police work and good communication between law-enforcement agencies.
patrick.mcardle@rutlandherald.com
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