Taxi driver arrested in Poughkeepsie drug bust after crash - Newport Dispatch
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Taxi driver arrested in Poughkeepsie drug bust after crash

1 min read

POUGHKEEPSIE — A local taxi driver was arrested Tuesday after allegedly selling cocaine throughout Dutchess County, according to the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office Drug Task Force.

Howard J. Nugent, 52, faces multiple felony drug charges following an investigation that began when authorities received information about a taxi driver selling narcotics from his Van Wagner Road residence and while operating his taxi service.

Drug Task Force Agents made multiple cocaine purchases from Nugent in several areas within the Town of Poughkeepsie and other locations in Dutchess County, leading to a search warrant.

On April 15 at approximately 3 p.m., agents were conducting surveillance near 106 Van Wagner Road when they observed Nugent leaving his residence in his vehicle.

When a marked Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services vehicle attempted to stop him, Nugent allegedly accelerated away, striking an unmarked Sheriff’s Office vehicle before leaving the roadway and hitting a light pole.

Nugent was taken into custody at the scene without incident.

Authorities immediately executed a search warrant at Nugent’s residence, where they reportedly seized large quantities of cocaine packaged for sale.

Additional cocaine packaged for sale was found concealed within Nugent’s vehicle at the crash site.

Nugent was charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the third degree with intent to sell and one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the third degree based on weight, all class B felonies.

Officials said numerous additional charges related to narcotics sales are pending against Nugent.

After processing at the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, Nugent was held at the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department pending arraignment.

On April 16, Nugent was arraigned in Town of Poughkeepsie Justice Court and released to probation supervision as required by New York State law.

The Drug Task Force was assisted by multiple agencies including the District Attorney’s Dangerous Drug and Violent Crimes Unit, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Bureau, the New York State Police Community Stabilization Unit, and the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department.

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