Canine Officer Finds Illegal Drugs During Traffic Stop: NYSP

WOODBURY, NY — Two upstate New Yorkers were accused of having drugs after being stopped for traffic violations.

The New York State Police said, around 2:40 p.m. Tuesday, members of the Troop F Community Stabilization Unit, along with K-9 Kell, stopped a 2008 black Nissan Altima on Route 17 in the town of Woodbury for traffic violations.

Police said the driver of the car was Jonathan J. Mateo, 31, of Moravia, Cayuga County. The passenger was Dylan J. Murdock, 30, of Fulton, Oswego County.

While troopers talked with the men, K-9 Kell alerted the officers to drugs in the trunk.

Once the trunk was open, K-9 Kell showed additional interest in a gray backpack that was inside.

A search of the backpack found about 1,077 grams of cocaine in the form of a rectangular block wrapped in plastic wrap.

Mateo and Murdock were taken into custody.

Police said Mateo had about $5,560 in his possession and Murdock had about $197.

Both men were arraigned in the Town of Woodbury Court

and charged with first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, intent to sell, both felonies.

They were sent to the Orange County Jail with their next scheduled appearance set for July 17.