Utica police make two drug arrests on Quality of Life Sweep
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UTICA, N.Y. -- Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri's Quality of Life Sweep on Lincoln Avenue took a bizarre turn Wednesday. Participating police officers made two drug arrests and used a Taser on a man.
Police said the officers on the sweep stopped a car driven by William Ford and Johnathan Farley for a traffic violation. The officers recognized Ford as a parolee, but they said Ford then lied about his identity.
When police asked him to exit the vehicle, he tried to run and they used a Taser on him.
Police found an undisclosed amount of cocaine and heroin on the men and in the car.
"They thought he might be wanted by New York State Parole. He initially lied to the police officers. They were able to identify his identification by his tattoos, then he fought with police rather than be taken into custody," Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said.
Farley faces misdemeanor charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance and two traffic summonses. Ford also faces a charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance, as well as false personation, resisting arrest, and violation harassment.
Ford is being held in Oneida County Jail on his parole violation.