Cortland Man Arrested for Drugs After Running from Cops

A Cortland man is charged with felony drug possession after Deputies apprehended him on North Main Street in the City Wednesday, July 20 in spite of his attempt to run away.

The Cortland County Sheriff’s Office says 25-year-old Richard Stevens is also charged with two misdemeanor counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia (in the Second Degree), one misdemeanor count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance (a Class A misdemeanor) and Resisting Arrest in addition to felony Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance (in the Third Degree).

Stevens was seen walking on North Main Street at 1:38 in the afternoon while he had warrants from New York State Parole, the City of Cortland Police Department and the City of Auburn Police Department.

According to the official release to the media, the Sheriff’s office says Stevens fled on foot when approached by officers and resisted arrest.  He was apprehended a short time later with the assistance of the City of Cortland K9 Unit.

Deputies say when they took Stevens into custody, they found him in possession of 18 bags of heroin, 23 Buprenorphine pills. Packaging materials and a scale.

Authorities have estimated the street value of the drugs seized from Stevens during the arrest at more than 410 dollars.

Stevens was processed and arraigned in the City of Cortland Court.  Following arraignment, he was sent to the Cortland County Jail.  There was no bail set for the defendant.

The Cortland man has been scheduled to be back in the City of Cortland Court next week to answer to the charges.

The Cortland County Drug Task Force was the lead agency in the investigation.