UTICA, N.Y. — On December 23, Utica Police officers conducting proactive patrols as part of an ongoing shots-fired investigation observed a narcotics transaction on Miller Street. Following the exchange, they attempted a vehicle stop on Columbia Street.
As the vehicle pulled over, officers saw occupants discarding items out of the car. A search of the vehicle uncovered over 76 grams of methamphetamine, along with a loaded .25 caliber magazine belonging to one of the individuals. Officers also found a baggie containing fentanyl and a .25 caliber handgun in the snow where the items had been thrown.
The two men in the vehicle, Paul Ward, 43, of Yorkville, and Warren Johnson, 47, of Utica, were detained and taken to the police department. Ward was charged with criminal possession of a firearm, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance. Johnson faces two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance.
