PENN YAN, NY — Jason M. Stephens, 42, of Penn Yan was arrested on a charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree following a police investigation.
Police responded to a local residence at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 21 for a report that Stephens was knocking at a door and refusing to leave.
According to witnesses, Stephens fled the area prior to officers arriving.
Police later located Stephens walking on Brown Street and made contact with him.
During the interaction, officers observed Stephens putting his hand in his jacket pocket as if he were holding something.
When officers told him to remove his hand, he produced a small plastic baggie from his jacket pocket.
Police said the baggie contained an unknown white crystalline substance.
Stephens claimed the bag belonged to one of the callers, which they denied.
The bag was seized as evidence and sent for laboratory testing.
Lab results later confirmed the substance was methamphetamine.
Police subsequently served Stephens an appearance ticket to return to Penn Yan Village Court at a future date.
