Heroin, Marijuana, Syringes: Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Charges

A Staten Island man and a Peekskill woman face drug possession charges in Putnam Valley, Putnam County Sheriff, Robert L. Langley Jr. reports.

At 8:32 p.m. Jan. 25, Deputy Shane Rossiter observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation on Oscawana Lake Road. Rossiter stopped the car.

Police said their subsequent investigation revealed that the vehicle contained marijuana, heroin and hypodermic syringes (for which neither occupant provided a prescription).

Both the vehicle’s driver, James Coffey, 25, of Staten Island, and passenger, Raven Taverna, 28, of Peekskill, were placed under arrest.

Both were transported to the Putnam County Correctional Facility for arrest processing.

Coffey was charged with Criminal Possession of Marijuana in the Fourth Degree (Class A Misdemeanor), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree (Class A Misdemeanor), and Possession of a Hypodermic Instrument (Class A Misdemeanor).

Taverna was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree (Class A Misdemeanor), and Criminal Possession of a Hypodermic Needle (Class A Misdemeanor).

Both were processed, issued appearance tickets, and released on $100 bail. Both are scheduled to appear in the Town of Putnam Valley Justice Court, at a future date and time.