| Columbia County Sheriff's Office |
David W. Harrison, Jr., SHERIFF James R. Sweet, UNDERSHERIFF
| Copyright ©2006 Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Hudson, NY 12534 |
UPPER LEVEL DRUG DEALER ARRESTED
April 29, 2009
Stuyvesant, NY Columbia County Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports that the continuing investigation into
illegal drug sales in Columbia County has resulted in the arrest of a person who is described as an upper level
drug dealer in Columbia, Dutchess and Greene Counties.
Richard K. Douglas, 51 years old of Co. Rte 41, Freehold, N.Y. – Greene County, was arrested for sales and
possession of narcotics, April 28, 2009 at 1:00PM. Douglas was observed traveling on NYS Rte 9J in the Town of
Stuyvesant by a Sheriff’s Patrol who then effected a traffic stop to arrest him. When Sergeant William Zincio and
Deputy Sheriff Louis Bray approached and requested that Douglas exit his vehicle, he refused and locked the
doors. When Zincio and Bray advised Douglas he was under arrest and reached inside of the vehicle attempting
to take him into custody, he sped away dragging the Deputy Sheriffs a short distance north on Rte 9J. Zincio and
Bray were not injured. While driving away from the traffic stop, Douglas also nearly struck another Sheriff’s vehicle
that was headed southbound on 9J and soon after, passed close to a NYS DOT crew and flag person at a high
rate of speed. Douglas was taken into custody by Deputy Sheriffs Brian Molinski, Louis Bray and Sgt. Zincio at the
intersection of 9J and Riverview Street in Stuyvesant.
Douglas’ arrest is the result of a several month investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement and
Education Unit (DEEU) Investigators, assisted by the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office. It is believed that
Douglas traveled to locations in Columbia County to sell Heroin. He was also found in possession of three bundles
of Heroin when arrested. He is charged with the original crime of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd
Degree – B Felony. Additionally, as a result of his actions during the traffic stop and arrest today, he is charged
with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell 3rd Degree – B Felony, 6 Counts of Reckless
Endangerment 1st Degree - D Felony, Resisting Arrest - A Misd., Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor
Vehicle 3rd Degree – A Misd., Reckless Driving – U Misd., and several infractions including; Failure to Obey a
Police Officer, Speed Not Reasonable and Prudent, Failure to Keep Right and Unsafe Turn Fail to Signal.
He was arraigned before Stuyvesant Town Judge the Hon. Carrie O’Hare and remanded to the Columbia
County Jail in lieu of no bail, to return to Stuyvesant Court on May 6, 2009.
Douglas is suspected of dealing Heroin at locations in Columbia, Greene and Dutchess counties. The type of
packaged Heroin Douglas was selling has turned up in the areas of Stuyvesant, Kinderhook, Philmont and
Germantown in Columbia County. Sheriff Harrison said, “The sale of illegal drugs not only directly affects the
addict, but affects our communities as we experience larcenies, burglaries and at times more violent crimes; all
while the drug dealer ruins lives and makes money. The Sheriff’s Office will continue to be assertive in
investigating, charging and arresting those people who deal drugs in our county.”
April 29, 2009
Stuyvesant, NY Columbia County Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports that the continuing investigation into
illegal drug sales in Columbia County has resulted in the arrest of a person who is described as an upper level
drug dealer in Columbia, Dutchess and Greene Counties.
Richard K. Douglas, 51 years old of Co. Rte 41, Freehold, N.Y. – Greene County, was arrested for sales and
possession of narcotics, April 28, 2009 at 1:00PM. Douglas was observed traveling on NYS Rte 9J in the Town of
Stuyvesant by a Sheriff’s Patrol who then effected a traffic stop to arrest him. When Sergeant William Zincio and
Deputy Sheriff Louis Bray approached and requested that Douglas exit his vehicle, he refused and locked the
doors. When Zincio and Bray advised Douglas he was under arrest and reached inside of the vehicle attempting
to take him into custody, he sped away dragging the Deputy Sheriffs a short distance north on Rte 9J. Zincio and
Bray were not injured. While driving away from the traffic stop, Douglas also nearly struck another Sheriff’s vehicle
that was headed southbound on 9J and soon after, passed close to a NYS DOT crew and flag person at a high
rate of speed. Douglas was taken into custody by Deputy Sheriffs Brian Molinski, Louis Bray and Sgt. Zincio at the
intersection of 9J and Riverview Street in Stuyvesant.
Douglas’ arrest is the result of a several month investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement and
Education Unit (DEEU) Investigators, assisted by the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office. It is believed that
Douglas traveled to locations in Columbia County to sell Heroin. He was also found in possession of three bundles
of Heroin when arrested. He is charged with the original crime of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd
Degree – B Felony. Additionally, as a result of his actions during the traffic stop and arrest today, he is charged
with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell 3rd Degree – B Felony, 6 Counts of Reckless
Endangerment 1st Degree - D Felony, Resisting Arrest - A Misd., Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor
Vehicle 3rd Degree – A Misd., Reckless Driving – U Misd., and several infractions including; Failure to Obey a
Police Officer, Speed Not Reasonable and Prudent, Failure to Keep Right and Unsafe Turn Fail to Signal.
He was arraigned before Stuyvesant Town Judge the Hon. Carrie O’Hare and remanded to the Columbia
County Jail in lieu of no bail, to return to Stuyvesant Court on May 6, 2009.
Douglas is suspected of dealing Heroin at locations in Columbia, Greene and Dutchess counties. The type of
packaged Heroin Douglas was selling has turned up in the areas of Stuyvesant, Kinderhook, Philmont and
Germantown in Columbia County. Sheriff Harrison said, “The sale of illegal drugs not only directly affects the
addict, but affects our communities as we experience larcenies, burglaries and at times more violent crimes; all
while the drug dealer ruins lives and makes money. The Sheriff’s Office will continue to be assertive in
investigating, charging and arresting those people who deal drugs in our county.”