Early Morning Drug Task Force Raids At High-Rise Leads To 2 Arrests, Narcotics, Weapon Seized

CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — An early morning raid at a downtown high-rise led to the arrest of two on drugs and weapons charges.

The Dutchess County District Attorney's Office Drug Task Force, along with the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office Emergency Services Unit (SWAT) and the Poughkeepsie SWAT team, executed several search warrants on Wednesday, at the Rip Van Winkle high-rise apartment complex in the City of Poughkeepsie.

The DA's office says that the investigation and search warrants resulted in the arrest of two drug and narcotic dealers, the seizure of narcotics, packaging, scales, and an assault rifle.

The search warrants were executed after Drug Task Force agents purchased narcotics from two separate apartments within the high-rise complex during the investigation.

Stacey L. Shortes Jr., 37, a City of Poughkeepsie resident, was arrested and charged with felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and felony fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was arraigned and released to the supervision of probation by the City of Poughkeepsie Court.

Glenn D. Knapp, 40, also from the City of Poughkeepsie, was arrested and charged with felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, felony fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and felony third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was remanded to the Dutchess County Justice and Transitions Center by the Dutchess County Court with bail.

The Drug Task Force was assisted by the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, the City of Poughkeepsie Police Neighborhood Recovery Unit, and the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office Patrol and Detective Bureaus.

Anyone with information about the cases or about others selling drugs in Dutchess County, are being urged to contact the Drug Task Force confidential tip line at 845-463-6040 or by emailing tips to this email address.