HUDSON – Eight people have been arrested by a multi-agency task force into illegal drug trafficking in Columbia County.
Warrants were executed on Wednesday, July 5 targeting mid-level drug dealers following a six-month investigation into what authorities dubbed Operation “Blue Hammer.”
Clayton Rathbone, 51, of Selkirk, was charged with felony drug possession. He was remanded to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $5,000.
Damian Hernandez III, 20, of Hudson, was charged with three counts of felony drug sale. He was remanded without bail.
Donna VanAlstyne, 53, of Hudson was charged with three felony counts of drug possession. She was remanded without bail.
Fred Collins, 59, of Hudson, was charged with two felony counts of drug sale and was remanded without bail.
Richard Colwell, 42, of Hudson, was charged with two counts of felony drug sales. He was remanded without bail.
Samuel McGriff, 34, of Catskill, was charged with three counts of felony drug sales. He was committed without bail.
Andre Moma, 21, of Brooklyn, was charged with three counts of felony drug sales and was remanded without bail.
A 17-year-old from Hudson was charged with three felony counts of drug possession.
Police pledged to continue their joint efforts targeting drug dealers.
Involved in this drug investigation were City of Hudson Police, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, State Police, DEA Albany, DEA New York City, CNET Capital, Albany County Sheriff’s Office, Bethlehem Police, Columbia County Probation Department and Columbia County District Attorney’s Office.
