BATH, NY — A Prattsburgh man faces a felony drug charge after heroin was found in a discarded book bag following a foot chase in September.
Domenick M. Lepera, 34, was charged with one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony.
An off-duty Bath police officer spotted Lepera walking on East Steuben Street at approximately 8:58 a.m. on Sept. 24.
Lepera was known to have multiple outstanding felony warrants.
An on-duty officer responded and attempted to take Lepera into custody on the warrants.
Lepera ran through backyards attempting to evade police.
After a brief foot pursuit, Lepera was taken into custody.
During the chase, Lepera discarded a book bag, which was quickly located by police.
Officers found a large quantity of cash on Lepera and suspected narcotics and packaging materials in the book bag.
Lepera was processed on the outstanding warrants and arraigned in Steuben County Court on Sept. 24.
He was remanded to the Steuben County Jail.
The suspected narcotics were sent to the New York State Crime Lab for testing.
On Jan. 29, Bath police received lab results indicating Lepera possessed 5.697 grams of heroin.
An arrest warrant was requested and issued by Bath Village Court.
On Feb. 8, Lepera was served and arraigned on the warrant at the Steuben County Jail, where he remains incarcerated.
Additional charges are expected upon grand jury presentation.
