Two facing charges in local heroin case

By RICHARD NILSEN, The Leader-Herald

AMSTERDAM - Two men who police said had 30 bags of heroin in their motel room were arrested Monday.

City police said Zachary Obrien, of 44 Milton Ave., and Kenneth Thomas of the Bronx, both 24, were charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Police said at 4 p.m., city detectives working with a New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Teams unit were doing surveillance in the area of Church Street.

Police said they saw an exchange of what appeared to be drugs take place on the street.

Uniformed officers stopped Obrien near the Fourth Avenue Bridge, police said.

Obrien agreed to be patted down, and officers found three packages of heroin on him, police said.

Obrien was taken into custody.

Police said Obrien also had a key to a motel room at the Valley View Motor Inn.

Officers went to the motel room and found Thomas.

Thomas signed a waiver to let officers search the room. Officers found a substantial amount of crack cocaine and about 30 bags of heroin there, police said.

Thomas was taken into custody.

Police said in addition to the crack (approximately 3 ounces) and heroin, several hundred dollars in cash was recovered.

Obrien had been issued an appearance ticket Sept. 1 for seventh- degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, police said.

He will be arraigned on that charge as well, police said.

Detective Lt. Thomas DiMezza said Obrien and Thomas had told the owners of the Valley View Motel they were students at Fulton-Montgomery Community College.

While officers were checking in Obrien at the booking rail of the Police Department, an officer saw Obrien reach in his pants and grab something, police said.

Obrien then put the substance in his mouth and swallowed it, police said.

Officers were unable to retrieve what he swallowed, police said.

Obrien was kept under observation until he could be seen by the judge, police said.

DiMezza said Thomas and Obrien have previous arrest records.

"These two were not new to the criminal justice system," DiMezza said.

They were being held in the city lockup today until they could be arraigned. Montgomery County District Attorney Jed Conboy helped with the case, police said.

Richard Nilsen is a general assignment reporter and can be reached at ga@leaderherald.com.