Wrong Way Driver Accused Of Having Drugs

STANFORD, NY — A man from Pennsylvania was arrested after going the wrong way on the Taconic State Parkway. State police said, around 11:25 p.m. March 4, multiple calls were received by Dutchess County 911 about a wrong way driver on the parkway.

Troopers were able to safely locate a 1997 Honda Accord traveling north in the southbound lanes just north of Bullshead Road in the Town of Stanford within minutes thanks to information provided by concerned citizens.

An investigation found that the driver — Daniel D. Loper, 33, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — was in possession of about 0.8 grams of heroin, 1.2 grams of buprenorphine hydrochloride, 0.6 grams of clonazepam, 10 mg of methadone hydrochloride and hypodermic needles.

He was arrested and charged with the following:

• Four counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanors
• Possession of a hypodermic needle, a misdemeanor
• Operating a motor vehicle while impaired with drugs, a misdemeanor

Loper was issued appearance tickets returnable to the Town of Stanford Court March 27.

He was released to a responsible third party.

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