NORWICH – A Norwich man was sentenced to three years in state prison last week after police said they discovered more than $25,000 worth of cocaine hidden in the framework of the car he was driving during a police traffic sting in 2009.
Christopher S. Purdy, 41, of Fair Street, Norwich, pleaded guilty to second degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, an A-II class felony, and was sentenced by Chenango County Court Judge W. Howard Sullivan to three years in prison and five years post-release supervision following a plea arrangement with prosecutors.
Purdy, who has been incarcerated at the Chenango County Correctional Facility since his November 2009 arrest, will receive credit for time already served. District Attorney Joseph McBride also said police would seize the vehicle involved in the incident, which was owned by Purdy’s girlfriend, as part of agreement.
While on cross-examination by the defense in a November 2009 Norwich City Court felony hearing, Norwich Police Officer and K-9 handler Brandon Clarke testified that police specifically targeted Purdy and the Hyundai Tiburon he was driving, saying the incident “was not a routine traffic stop.”
Clark said he and two other officers on patrol were told by superiors to be on the lookout for the vehicle and potential drugs on Nov. 19, 2009 after investigators received a information that cocaine was being transported to Norwich from the Syracuse area.
Clarke said he and the other officers pulled Purdy over at 10:13 p.m., along Cortland Street. When asked if drugs were in the car, Purdy told officers, “no,” said Clarke.
Clarke said he led his drug canine, Weeks, around the outside of the vehicle, testifying the dog signaled a detection.
Police impounded the vehicle and drove the car back to the Norwich station, where officers following the dog’s lead began dismantling parts of the seized car.
Officers testified they eventually discovered about 9.13 ounces of cocaine wrapped in plastic tucked into the driver’s side rear wheel paneling. “That amount comes to being worth just under $26,000 in street value,” said Detective Michael Purdy.
Police Chief Angelino added the cocaine seizure was one of the largest in recent memory.
Police also reported about two ounces of marijuana were found inside the vehicle. The stop was the first felony arrest for the NPD’s K-9 unit, which completed training just a month before.
In earlier proceedings, the defense argued that Purdy was unaware of the concealed drugs being hidden in a car he didn’t even own. However, Purdy admitted the cocaine was his on Oct. 15, when he pleaded guilty.
Before sentencing, Purdy’s private attorney, Thomas J. Valerino of Syracuse, reminded the court his client had no rap sheet, no bench warrant history, was cooperative with police during the investigation and had a clean criminal record, apart from a previous driving while intoxicated charge. Clarke confirmed said Purdy seemed “calm” during the traffic stop and cooperated with police at the time.