PHILMONT – A 40-year-old Halfmoon man has been arrested by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and charged with felony possession of drugs with intent to sell.
Duane McEwan was arrested after the sheriff’s office Drug Enforcement and Education Unit conducted an investigation into suspicious activity on Main Street in the Village of Philmont.
During the course of their investigation, sheriff’s patrols made contact with McEwan around 7 p.m. on March 16.
Deputies were aware of an active arrest warrant for an unrelated incident for which he was placed into custody.
During his arrest, deputies found McEwan in possession of marijuana and some $5,800 in cash.
Further investigation and a search of the vehicle in which McEwan had been a passenger led to the discovery of 60 grams of fentanyl, 40 grams of crack and powder cocaine, concentrated cannabis, and another large quantity of marijuana.
He was arrested and charged with two felony counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, and two counts of drug possession,
The street value of the fentanyl was $6,000 and that of the crack and cocaine was some $4,000, police said.
“This was a great pick up by the drug unit and patrol deputies in the area,” said Sheriff David Bartlett. “To look beyond the suspicious activity to recognize what was really going on is a credit to their training and knowledge.”
McEwan was arraigned and released on his own recognizance pending a future court appearance.
