ALBANY — The state’s second-highest court has reversed a Syracuse man’s drug and weapons conviction after finding that the State Police search that led to his arrest in Sullivan County six years ago was unlawful.
In a 4-0 decision issued Thursday, the Appellate Division of the state Supreme Court’s Third Department ruled that evidence used in Jamell Russ’ trial should have been suppressed because troopers did not follow proper procedures when searching his vehicle in June 2020 in the town of Liberty. Russ had been charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
When troopers pulled Russ over for speeding, they discovered the dealer plate on the vehicle had been reported stolen, the vehicle was not registered or insured and Russ’ driver’s license was suspended. After arresting Russ but before having his vehicle towed, troopers conducted an inventory search…