Three arrested in Colonie on drug, weapon charges
COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Colonie Police announced the arrest of three people following a drug investigation. Stephen Johnson, 49, of Albany, Jaylene Brown, 39, of South Glens Falls, and Craig Heerlein, 35, of Whitehall, all face numerous charges.
On December 9 around 1:10 a.m., police patrols noticed a car that was reportedly blocking a handicapped parking space at the Albany Airport Inn on Wolf Road. After speaking to the driver, identified as Johnson, officers initiated an investigation, during which they allegedly located narcotics and a loaded handgun within the car.
Police learned that Johnson didn't have a permit to lawfully own the gun. Furthermore, the weapon had previously been reported stolen in a 2017 burglary at New York Shooter Supply.
The search of the car led to a warrant being executed at room 251 in the hotel, where Colonie Police reportedly found and recovered quantities of various drugs, including fentanyl, meth, and crack cocaine. The seizure resulted in Johnson, Brown, and Heerlein being taken into custody at the scene. They now face the following charges:
Johnson
- Criminal possession of narcotic - intent to sell
- Third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance - narcotic
- Criminal possession of a controlled substance
- Second-degree criminal possession of a weapon
- Third-degree criminal possession of a weapon
- Criminal possession of a firearm
- Fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property - firearm
Brown and Heerlein
- Criminal possession of narcotic - intent to sell
- Third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance - narcotic
- Fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance - narcotic
- Criminal possession of a controlled substance
After being arraigned, Johnson was remanded to the Albany County Correctional Facility without bail pending a preliminary hearing. Heerlein was released under probational supervision, while Brown was released on her own recognizance. Colonie Police said a fourth person was arrested during the incident for an unrelated warrant.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Colonie Police's Investigations Division at (518)783-2754.