News release
WATERTOWN, NY — On 05/18/22, members of the Metro-Jeff Drug Task Force were conducting a drug investigation in the City of Watertown. As part of this investigation a vehicle stop was conducted on a 2019 Kia 4dr sedan by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. This vehicle was occupied by three males. The operator of the vehicle failed to comply and a short pursuit took place through the city.
The pursuit ended on Iroquois Ave East in the City of Watertown.
One of the male occupants, Atrell D. Ellick (age 21, Syracuse, NY), was taken into custody at the vehicle stop.
The two other males fled north on foot through a wooded area.
The two males, Henry D. Townsend (age 27, Syracuse, NY) and Devon R. Drake (age 31, Syracuse, NY) were located and taken into custody in the parking lot of the Watertown High School.
A small quantity of cocaine and methamphetamine was discarded in the school parking lot by these two suspects and was recovered by police.
The suspects and vehicle were taken to the Public Safety Building for further investigation.
A search warrant was obtained and executed on the vehicle and suspects.
As a result, Henry D. Townsend was charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd degree (class B felony). Mr. Townsend was arraigned in CAP court by the presiding judge and held on $10,000.00 cash bail.
The operator of the vehicle, Devon R. Drake, was charged by Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies with Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in the 3rd degree (class A misdemeanor) and numerous other vehicle and traffic charges and was released.
The Metro-Jeff Drug Task Force was assisted by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Watertown Police road patrol and ID unit, the NYSP, and the NYS DEC. This is an on-going investigation.
Additional arrests and charges are pending.