A lieutenant with the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office was arrested Friday on felony and misdemeanor charges following an investigation by New York State Police and local prosecutors.
Charges stem from traffic stop
New York State Police said Lt. Thomas Fellrath, 35, of Hartwick, was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class C felony; defrauding the government, a class E felony; and official misconduct, a class A misdemeanor.
Investigators allege Fellrath possessed 10 grams of cocaine during a traffic stop on the New York State Thruway in Herkimer County.
Arrest made while lieutenant was on duty
According to State Police, Fellrath was on duty at the time of his arrest and was driving an unmarked Otsego County Sheriff’s Office vehicle outside Otsego County.
The arrest followed an investigation by the State Police Special Investigations Unit, the Troop C Community Stabilization Unit and the Otsego County District Attorney’s Office.
Case to be prosecuted by two district attorneys
The case is being prosecuted by the Otsego County District Attorney’s Office under Acting District Attorney Christopher J. Di Donna and the Herkimer County District Attorney’s Office under District Attorney Jeffrey Carpenter.
No additional information was immediately released.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Otsego County lieutenant arrested on drug charges
Reporting by New York Connect Team, USA Today Network / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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