by Bea Peterson
According to Hoosick Falls Police Chief Robert Whalen arrests were made on Wednesday, June 3, as a result of a joint two-state investigation into the burglaries at Thorpe’s Pharmacy on the corner of Church and John Streets in Hoosick Falls and O’Hearns Pharmacy on Main Street in Cambridge. On April 24 approximately $15,000 in pharmaceutical drugs was stolen from Thorpe’s, and on May 28 approximately $50,000 in pharmaceutical drugs was stolen from O’Hearns.
Officers from the Bennington, VT, Hoosick Falls and Cambridge-Greenwich Police Departments, the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Department, the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office Drug and Gang Task Force, members of the Drug Enforcement Agency and NYS Police simultaneously executed search warrants on vehicles, a motel room in Bennington and a home and vehicles located on Breese Hollow Road in Hoosick. As a result, authorities confiscated thousands of pills and other drugs that were identified as those stolen from the pharmacies. They had been removed from their respective containers and placed in packaging for resale. The pills have a street value of $5 to $10 apiece. During the execution of the search warrants police found evidence of other burglaries that occurred in Bennington and Manchester, VT, and approximately 900 marijuana plants, along with heroin and four containers of psilocybin mushrooms and various rifles.
Police arrested Mark J. Stratton, 25, and Michael J. Stratton, 25, and David S. Oakes, all of 654 Breese Hollow Road. The three were charged in Rensselaer County with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the fourth degree, C Felony and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Michael Stratton and David Oakes were also charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the fifth degree. They were arraigned before Town of Hoosick Justice Richard Whalen. Mark Stratton and David Oakes were committed to the Rensselaer County Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000 cash bail. Michael Stratton was remanded to the Rensselaer County Correctional Facility without bail.
Bennington Police arrested Jason A. Seifert, 23, and Jessica Stratton, 28, of 654 Breese Hollow Road. Both subjects were charged in Bennington with Possession and Sale of a Depressant, Stimulant, Narcotic Drug more than 100 times the individual therapeutic dosage. Both are also charged with Possession of Stolen Property with the medication recovered from the O’Hearns Pharmacy. Stratton is currently being held on $30,000 cash bail at the Marble Valley Correctional Center in Rutland, VT. Seifert is being held on $35,000 cash bail at Marble Valley. They were arraigned on June 4.
Chief Whalen said the investigation is ongoing and further charges will be considered in Washington and Rensselaer Counties and the State of Vermont with federal charges also possible.
On Monday, June 8, Mark Stratton, Michael Stratton and David Oakes appeared again before Judge Whalen. Michael Stratton and Oakes waived their preliminary hearing. Mark Stratton did not have an attorney. He appeared again on Tuesday and also waived his preliminary hearing.
Chief Whalen said the joint investigation and information police had received led them to designate those arrested as persons of interest in the burglaries. Police had been wanting to interview these men for some time but were unable to locate them.
The break in the case came early Wednesday morning, June 3, when Bennington Police responded to a 911 call at the Apple Valley Inn and found Jessica Stratton unconscious on the floor. Seifert was also in the room. Both were taken to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center for treatment. According to Bennington Police new and used syringes were laying around the room along with about 2,300 pills. An additional 2,700 pills were found in their vehicle. As the evidence in Bennington unfolded, Cambridge/Greenwich and Hoosick Falls Police and the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Department were notified. A warrant was quickly obtained to search the Breese Hollow Road residence. Sheriff’s Deputies Shane Holcomb and Billy Webster had the residence under surveillance waiting for the arrest warrant when Michael Stratton and David Oakes drove from the property. Chief Whalen said when the two noticed the unmarked squad car they began tossing pills out of the vehicle. Shortly thereafter they pulled over and were arrested without incident. Mark Stratton was arrested in the Breese Hollow residence. Four children under the age of four were in the home. They were seen playing with prescription pill bottles filled with medication. Chief Whalen said at least 20 to 30 new and used syringes, some with drugs in them, were found throughout the house.
The children were released into the custody of their grandmother who took them to her home. Rensselaer County Child Protective Services is monitoring the children’s welfare.
Pills marked for sale were found in the house, along with ledgers indicating sales. Chief Whalen said three safes were recovered. One safe was from the Sirloin Saloon in Manchester, VT. Several gift certificates from the restaurant were also found, along with collectable sports cards. The Chief said those arrested were suspects in a residential burglary as well.
In back of the house 900 young marijuana plants were found. Chief Whalen said they had been informed the plants were there.
The Thorpe’s charges include criminal mischief for the twice damaged doors and burglary.
“They are looking at several years [for the burglaries and selling drugs[,” said Chief Whalen. “In New York State the charge for the baby marijuana plants is a misdemeanor. However the federal charge for marijuana growth is five years.”
“They could possibly face federal charges for interstate transportation of narcotics. Right now their cases are under investigation by Bennington County, the Rensselaer County DA, the Washington County DA and the U.S. Attorney’s office.”