Chief O’Grady commends village “narcotics squad”
By Andrew Harris
The residents of Pine Street in the Village of Wellsville are safer today after a big bust by village police on Friday November 24. Matthew Saunders of Wellsville was charged with four felonies related to a November 13 traffic stop and November 24 search warrant at 135 Pine Street. Between the two incidents, Saunders was relieved of a total of 124 grams of methamphetamine and $4000 cash. He was sent to the Allegany County Jail without bail.
The arrest report indicated that “agents” of the Wellsville Police Department conducted undercover purchases from Saunders.
We asked Chief of Police Tim O’Grady about the agents mentioned in the departments official press. O’Grady replied that his department has always used “agents” to conduct drug enforcement and those agents are a mix of volunteers, paid contractors, and department staff.
Chief O’Grady went on to applauded Sgt. Chad Green and the narcotics squad, Sgt. Tom Fanton, Sgt. Bryant Hughes and Officer Justin Zajicek.
Read the full release from the Wellsville Police Department:
On November 24, 2023 the Wellsville Police Department arrested Matthew J. Saunders, age 34, from Wellsville on numerous charges following multiple investigations.
Saunders was charged with two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 5th degree and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell in the 5th degree for selling quantities of methamphetamine to agents of the Wellsville Police Department.
Saunders was also charged on an Arrest Warrant with one count Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 2nd degree (Class A felony) and one count Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell in the 3rd degree (Class B felony) following a traffic stop that occurred on November 13th in which a large quantity of methamphetamine (approximately 33 grams) was discovered inside the vehicle.
Additionally, Saunders was charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 2nd degree (Class A felony) and one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell in the 3rd degree (Class B felony). These charges stem from a search warrant which was completed on his residence on November 24th in which a large quantity of methamphetamine (approximately 90 grams) and $4,000 cash was discovered and seized.
Saunders was arraigned in Village of Wellsville Justice Court on all of the charges and remanded to Allegany County Jail with no bail.
