INTERSTATE 390: Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty reports the arrest of three individuals on drug related charges after a traffic stop on Interstate 390. On February 18, 2019 Deputy Shawn Whitford was assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Operation Safe Interstate initiative when he stopped a vehicle on Interstate 390 for a violation of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law. During the Deputy Sheriff’s contact with the operator of the vehicle, he smelled the odor of marijuana emanating from inside the vehicle. The Deputy Sheriff then began a roadside drug investigation.
It is alleged that during the course of the investigation, a passenger in the vehicle, 29 year old Ruben R. Smith from Rochester NY, was in possession of five (5) packages of marijuana that he attempted to hide in the seat of the vehicle when the vehicle was being pulled over. Ruben Smith was arrested and charged with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana and felony Tampering with Physical Evidence.
It is also alleged that another passenger in the vehicle, 27 year old Dakota J. Costello from Bath NY, was in possession of two (2) bags of crack cocaine, along with a smoking device. Dakota Costello was arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th Degree and Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the 2nd Degree. It is further alleged through the investigation that a third passenger in the vehicle, 38 year old Anthony T. Smith from Rochester NY, was in possession of seventy (70) bags of crack cocaine, weighing approximately thirty seven (37) grams along with unused drug packaging, razor blades, and a digital scale. It is alleged that Smith also attempted to hide the items when the vehicle was being pulled over. Anthony Smith was arrested and charged with two (2) counts of felony Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree, felony Tampering with Physical Evidence, and two (2) counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the 2nd Degree.
Ruben Smith, Dakota Costello, and Anthony Smith were turned over to Central Booking Deputies at the Livingston County Jail for processing and pre-arraignment detention. The District Attorney’s Office was contacted in regards to bail for the felony level arrests. It was
advised that both Ruben Smith and Anthony Smith be held without the chance of bail due to having multiple prior felony convictions per the NYS Criminal Procedure Law.
Ruben Smith, Dakota Costello, and Anthony Smith were later arraigned at the Livingston County Centralized Arraignment Part (LC-CAP) at the Livingston County Jail before Town of Groveland Justice Jeanean Love. The Judge remanded Ruben Smith and Anthony Smith to
the custody of the Sheriff with the chance of bail pending further court action. Dakota Costello was remanded to the custody of the Sheriff on $500 cash bail or $1,000 bond.
Anthony Smith Dakota Costello Ruben Smith
