Troopers: Southeast Driver Threw Heroin Out The Window

SOUTHEAST, NY — New York State Police conducted a Driving While Intoxicated safety checkpoint detail in the town of Southeast on Friday evening. In addition to making DWI arrests and writing traffic tickets, troopers arrested a local man who they said threw heroin out the car window when he was stopped.

Further investigation revealed the Southeast resident had seven suspensions on his license.

Police said John J. Thorpe Jr., 39, was traveling on Danbury Road and stopped for a violation of the vehicle and traffic law. Prior to stopping Thorpe was observed throwing an object, later identified to be about 14 grams of heroin, out of his vehicle window.

He was charged with Tampering with Evidence, a class E felony, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th degree, and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation in the 2nd degree, both misdemeanors.

Thorpe was issued appearance tickets returnable to the town of Southeast Court on May 23.

In all during the detail, three DWI arrests were made, and 23 traffic tickets written including two for speeding.

State police said the reason they do these details is that every day, almost 30 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes, which claim more than 10,000 lives per year nationwide.

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