Seven people were arrested in Saratoga Springs on Friday, July 8, as the result of an eight-month investigation by the city’s Special Investigation Unit into the sale of crack cocaine and powder cocaine in the Jefferson Terrace and Vanderbilt Terrace Housing Project and the surrounding area, according to the police department.
According to information from the police department, around 6:30 p.m. on July 8, a team of 14 police officers from the Saratoga Springs Police Department executed seven Superior Court Felony Arrest Warrants in the Jefferson Terrace, Vanderbilt Terrace and surrounding areas and arrested seven people.
Chester C. Jones, aka X, 33, of Rolling Meadows, Villarica, GA, was charged with four counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony; four counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree,a class B felony; four counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, misdemeanors, according to police reports.
James G. Jones, 32, of Hamilton Street in Albany was charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony; two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony; two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, misdemeanors, according to police reports.
Brad A. Bova, 32, of President Street in Troy was charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the second degree, a class A-II felony; two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony; two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony, according to police reports.
Jennifer L. Samuel, 32, of Jefferson Terrace in Saratoga Springs, was charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony; two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony; two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a class A misdemeanor, according to police reports.
Celena M. Rich, 31, of Jefferson Terrace in Saratoga Springs, was charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony; two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony; two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a class A misdemeanor, according to police reports.
Archie L. Burr, 36, of Vanderbilt Terrace in Saratoga Springs, was charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony; two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony; two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a class A misdemeanor, according to police reports.
Robin A. Robinson, aka Robin A. Lipkin, 29, of Vanderbilt Terrace in Saratoga Springs, was charged with one count of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony; one count of criminal possession
of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony; one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a class A misdemeanor, according to police reports. Robinson was also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, a class D felony, because she was in possession of cocaine at the time of her arrest.
The Special Investigations Unit was assisted by members of the Criminal Investigation Unit, Patrol Division and Troy Police Department in executing the Felony Arrest Warrants, as well as the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority, according to information from the police department.
In May, Commissioner of Public Safety Richard Wirth attended a meeting of the residents in Jefferson and Vanderbilt Terrace and was told of their concerns regarding safety, violence and what appeared to be illegal narcotics issues, according to information from the police department. Upon conclusion of the meeting and informing the concerned residents he would look in to the issues, Wirth met with the supervisors of the Investigation Division Lt. Gregory Veitch and Sgt. John Catone and expressed the concerns of the residents.“
