Upstate New York Man Indicted on Narcotics Charges

By Alicia Cruz

The Black Urban Times

TheBlackUrbanTimes

A Rockland County, New York Grand Jury handed down an indictment against a Nyack man accused of resisting and assaulting Nyack police last year when the officers attempted to arrest the defendant on a narcotics charge.

In a press release, District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe said Preston Santiago of Pine Street in Nyack, was standing on Franklin Street on June 24, 2012 around 1:30 a.m. when an altercation between Santiago and Nyack police officers began.

According to the statement, the officers were patrolling the area and were forced to "drive around" Santiago. After the officer left his patrol vehicle, Santiago allegedly "shoved" the officer and refused to comply with the officer's instructions. A struggle ensued leaving the officer with a laceration that required stitches.

After a search of the 30-year-old defendant, police discovered 15 small bags of crack cocaine. On February 22, 2013, the Grand Jury handed down an indictment of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance (3rd degree) and Assault (3rd degree). No word on whether Santiago has retained an attorney.