An Otsego County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant is facing drug charges following a joint investigation.
New York State Police on Saturday announced that they found 10 grams of cocaine in the possession of Lt. Thomas Fellrath, 35, of Hartwick.
Officials say this was during a highway traffic stop on Friday in neighboring Herkimer County.
Police say Fellrath was on duty in an unmarked sheriff’s office car.
He is charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, as well as defrauding the government and official misconduct.
The investigation was handled by the New York State Police Special Investigations Unit, the Troop C Community Stabilization Unit and the Otsego County District Attorney’s Office.
On Saturday, Otsego County Sheriff Richard Devlin announced that Fellrath was fired from his role.
“The residents of Otsego County place their trust in law enforcement officers to serve honorably and uphold the law,” Devlin said in a statement. “Any violation of that trust is taken extremely seriously.”
Devlin said a criminal investigation is ongoing.