Port Chester Man Charged in Connection with Jail Drug Overdoses

Two men have been charged with promoting prison contraband in connection with several drug overdoses at the Westchester County Jail over the weekend.

A half-dozen inmates at the facility took sick over the weekend after taking drugs, and county police are running tests to determine what substance they smoked.

Charged were Port Chester resident Deron Strange, 31, and Mount Pleasant resident James Graziano, 31, according to Westchester County Police spokesperson Kieran O’Leary. The two will be arraigned later this week at Mount Pleasant Town Court.

The two were among the six who were sick.

The following is from O’Leary’s statement:

Strange is accused of being in possession of the remains of a burnt hand-rolled cigarette. Tests are under way to determine the substance it contains.

Graziano is accused of being in possession of a small plastic bottle that was altered so it could be used as a pipe or bowl for smoking.

The investigation continues to determine what substance the inmates ingested, apparently by smoking it, and how they obtained it.

Strange was being held at the Westchester County Jail on a second-degree assault charge. Graziano was being held on a New York State parole violation.

Photo 1: Deron Strange, left, and James Graziano. Photo credit: Westchester County Police. Photo 2: Westchester County Jail. Photo credit: WCDCRetired.net