HUDSON–Three Philmont residents, characterized by the district attorney as “major drug dealers in southern Columbia County” were indicted in Columbia County Court last week on two counts of drug possession.
Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka told The Columbia Paper Tuesday that shortly after taking office January 1, he met with Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. and Livingston State Police Senior Investigator Donald Bailey about the state of crime in the county.
The lawmen agreed on many points, including that Robert Perez, one of the three people indicted last week, had been “a thorn in the side of law enforcement” for quite some time, said the DA.
A joint investigation was immediately mounted into Mr. Perez’ activities culminating in the issuance of a search warrant, which was executed at 23 Main Street in Philmont, the Perez residence, the morning of Thursday, February 23. Police seized a half-ounce of cocaine and more than two ounces of marijuana. The evidence was presented to a grand jury, which returned the indictment later that afternoon.
Mr. Perez, 31; his wife, Lisa Perez, 26, both of 23 Main Street, and David Brizzie, 32, also of Philmont, who were all at the house when the search was undertaken, were all indicted for third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and fourth degree criminal possession of marijuana.
They were all arraigned before County Judge Jonathan Nichols, who ordered them confined to the county jail without bail.
Mr. Czajka said the three had been involved in drug activity “for years” and credited cooperation among police agencies, including Hudson and Chatham Police, who also contributed information which led to the arrests, for getting the trio off the streets.
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com.
