Five arrested, 299 bags of heroin seized in Cortland County drug bust

Cortland Drug Task Force seizes $6,600 and drug paraphernalia.

Cortland, NY -- Police in Cortland County said today they busted a heroin trafficking ring and seized 299 bags of heroin, eight grams of crack cocaine and marijuana following a three-month investigation.

Five people, three of whom are from Cortland County, were arrested in the investigation conducted by state police and the Cortland Drug Task Force. Police also seized $6,600 and various drug paraphernalia.

Arrested were: Michael D. Grinnell, 24, of 38 James St., Apt. 4, Homer; Patrick S. Mazzone, 28, of 31 Central Ave., Apt. 10, Cortland; Nathaniel D. Schumacher, 18, of 5461 East Homer-Baltimore Road, Homer; William Clark, 21, of Queens; and Scott Williams, 25, of Cambria Heights, police said.

Here are their charges, according to police:

Grinnell -- felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, endangering the welfare of a child and criminal possession of a hypodermic needle.

Mazzone -- third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a hypodermic needle.

Schumacher -- seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a hypodermic needle.

Clark, who used to live with Grinnell, was arrested on charges of second-degree criminal impersonation and unlawful possession of marijuana.

Williams was arrested at a Court Street apartment in Cortland on charges of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana.

All but Schumacher, who was released, were being held in local jails, police said.

P. Mazzone

W. Clark
N. Schumacher
M. Grinnell

You can reach Scott Rapp at srapp@syracuse.com or 289-4839.