K-9 Vinn Leads Troopers To Cocaine, Ketamine Stash On I-87: NYSP

TOWN OF ULSTER, NY — Troopers took a significant stash of potentially dangerous drugs off the streets, thanks in part to an assist from a four-legged colleague in blue.

The New York State Police say that on Thursday, at 2:01 p.m., troopers from the Troop K Community Stabilization Unit stopped a vehicle traveling north on I-87, in the Town of Ulster.

State police identified the driver/owner as 48-year-old Colin F. Hill, of Dorset, Vermont; and the front-seat passenger as 32-year-old Correy G. Smith, of Brooklyn.

After an exterior sniff of the vehicle, NYSP K-9 Vinn alerted troopers to the presence of narcotics. A search of the vehicle found around 251.5 grams of cocaine and 51.5 grams of ketamine, according to NYSP.

Hill and Smith were arrested and charged with felony first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (intent to sell); felony fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; felony fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (intent to sell); and misdemeanor second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

They were taken to the Ulster County Centralized Arraignment Part Court for arraignment, and then remanded to the Ulster County Jail without bail.