Undercover Operation Leads to 7 Arrests for Selling Marijuana

7 Hudson Valley residents, including two teenagers, were arresting following an undercover operation for drug sales in Orange County.

Friday, the Port Jervis City Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Orange County Special Operations Group executed two Port Jervis City Court ordered “No Knock” search warrants at 10 George Street and 16 Rumsey Street in Port Jervis.

Police say they recovered 2.3 pounds of marijuana, scales, packaging materials, a quantity of MDMA “Ecstasy”, and an electronic stun gun at 16 Rumsey Street.

Brian Roman, 34, 19-year-old Deshawn Dickens, and Patricia Snyder, 37, all of Port Jervis were all charged with 5th-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of marijuana, felonies, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal use of drug paraphernalia. Roman was additionally charged with a violation of parole.

All 3 were arraigned in Port Jervis City Court. Roman was remanded to Orange County Jail without bail. Dickens was remanded to Orange County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail. Snyder was remanded to Orange County Jail in lieu of $15,000.

At 10 George Street police allegedly recovered over 1 pound of marijuana, packaging materials, scales, and $2,740.

Zakee Lynch,20, 20-year-old Sebastian Robinson, Keith Quattlebaum, 17, and 39-year-old Najuma Ellerbee, all of Port Jervis were all charged with criminal possession of marijuana, a felony

Lynch and Robinson were arraigned in Port Jervis City Court and remanded to Orange County Jail in lieu of $15,000. Quattlebaum was remanded to the Orange County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail. Ellerbee was remanded to Orange County Jail in lieu of $10,000.

“Port Jervis Police Officers and Detectives will continue to work proactively and diligently with our law enforcement partners and community members to address the illicit drug trade in the City of Port Jervis and surrounding area to improve the quality of life for our residents,” Chief William Worden stated. “Thank you for the continued support of local residents for “being the eyes and ears” in their neighborhoods and reporting suspicious narcotics activity to the police department.”

“The Orange County Sheriff’s Office remains a dedicated partner with the Port Jervis Police Department and will continue to support their narcotics enforcement operations,” said Orange County Sheriff Carl Dubois.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler stated, “These arrests exemplify community policing and community prosecution at its best. These locations have been the subject of numerous community complaints and I commend the Port Jervis Police Department and the Sheriff for their investigation. In addition to the prosecution of these defendants, my office shall also commence civil evictions proceedings against these defendants as part of our Narcotics Eviction Program which has the ability to evict tenants operating illegal businesses including those that traffic drugs and other contraband.”

The undercover operation began following complaints from residents about illegal drug sales in Orange County.

Members of the public are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the Port Jervis Police Station at 845-856-5101 or their confidential TIPS Line at 845-858-4003.