Betrothed Pair Mixed Up in Meth Caught with Generators from Dansville Barn

DANSVILLE – One of the engaged pair from Painted Post and Elmira who were arrested on I-390 has also been implicated in at least one Livingston County burglary, in which electric generators were taken from a barn in North Dansville.

According to a press release from Livingston County Sheriff Thomas Dougherty, Adam Vancise, 34, of Painted Post, NY, was charged with Burglary in the Third Degree, a D felony, Criminal Possession of a Precursor of Methamphetimine, an E felony, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, an E felony, and Petit Larceny, an A misdemeanor.

“The investigation is ongoing, what we have is basically what we were able to piece together what we could in about a 24-hour period,” said Livingston County Chief Deputy Matthew Burgess. “[Vancise] is alleged to have taken the generators from garage-type buildings. It is unclear whether there are more burglaries from the area at this point.”

On Nov. 6, Sheriff’s Deputy Shawn Whitford with K-9 partner Utah stopped a vehicle traveling southbound on 390 for several traffic violations. During the roadside investigation, Deputy Whitford discovered that the two occupants of the vehicle possessed pseudoephedrine and precursors used to manufacture methamphetamine, as well as the generators.

The driver, Michelle Croft, 33, of Elmira, NY, was charged with Criminal Possession of a Precursor of Methamphetamine, an E felony, Uninspected Vehicle and a Turn Signal Violation.

Sheriff Dougherty added that the arrests were made as part of Operation Safe Interstate.

“The Deputies proactively patrolling the interstate continues to be a game changer,” stated Sheriff Dougherty. “Not only are they are removing impaired drivers and getting drugs off the streets in large numbers but they are recovering stolen property. In this case the owner of the stolen generators did not realize his barn had been broken into until we contacted him. That is great police work and I could not be more proud of the Deputies.”

Both Vancise and Croft were arraigned in Avon Town Court and remanded to the Livingston County Jail on $15,000 cash or $30,000 bond.

Assisting on scene was Deputy Matthew Moran of the Forensic Identification Unit) and Sheriff’s Investigators Jeff Wiedrick and Gene Chichester of the Criminal Investigations Division.