PUBLIC SAFETY

Meth found in Elmira man's car after Broome County police chase, leads to federal charges

Anthony Borrelli
Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin

Nearly a week after being charged in a Corning gun bust, an Elmira man allegedly led police on a high-speed chase into Broome County.

Meth was found in the car once the pursuit came to a finish.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Binghamton charged Charles Kennedy, 24, of Elmira on Friday with federal felony counts of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine along with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Kenney was arrested following a high-speed chase Sept. 5, after the New York State Police were called to a Speedway gas station in Apalachin to check on a person sleeping behind the wheel of a Camaro.

An appearance for Kennedy in federal court hasn't been announced.

Here's what court documents unsealed Friday describe about the case:

How police chase in Apalachin ended

Troopers tapped on the window to wake up Kennedy, who stated he'd been driving from Elmira to Corning. But he couldn't explain why he happened to be in Apalachin.

Kennedy showed signs of impairment and there were liquor bottles visible in the car. Instead of stepping out when asked, Kennedy started the car and took off at high speed.

State police pursued Kennedy, and the chase reached speeds of up to 115 miles per hour. 

To end the pursuit, police tried using spike strips to deflate the Camaro's tires. Broome County Sheriff's Sgt. Kevin Mauser used the strips and was able to bring Kennedy's car to a stop, but not before it struck a concrete barrier.

No serious injuries were reported, but Kennedy's leg became stuck between the passenger-side door and the door frame. He'd made an attempt to get out of the car while it was still moving.

Kennedy told sheriff's deputies after he was freed from the door that he had a gun in the car. A loaded pistol was recovered from under the driver's seat.

Police also noticed a crystal-like substance, later confirmed to be meth, inside a plastic bag in the car.

A search of the Camaro turned up about 150 grams of meth, 20 grams of cocaine, 50 grams of crack and one pound of marijuana, according to investigators. More than $2,500 in cash was also confiscated.

Kennedy denied the drugs belonged to him. Instead, Kennedy told police the drugs belonged to a friend who left them in his car, and that he'd been on his way to return the drugs to his friend.

Kennedy also told police he obtained the gun from another person who would "get guns" for him.

What court docs revealed:Drug trafficking case spanned Michigan to NY, led to federal charges in Tioga County

Exclusive:How police tracked down a Broome County man accused of shooting a NY trooper in Colesville

Kennedy had prior gun, drug arrests

Court records say Kennedy has been arrested in three firearm and drug cases since November 2019. 

Most recently, on Aug. 31, he was stopped in Corning for driving without license plates. While police were speaking with Kennedy, an officer discovered he had a .25-caliber handgun without a New York State pistol permit.

The Corning Police Department and Steuben County Sheriff's Office began investigating and found Kennedy allegedly had more than a dozen illegal weapons. Among them, police said, were a sawed-off shotgun and at least two handguns that had been reported stolen in Chemung and Ontario counties.

Police also reported finding numerous large-capacity magazines and "copious amounts of ammunition."

Kennedy was also previously arrested April 24, 2020, in Rochester, court documents say. He faced charges including firearm offenses and drug possession with intent to sell in connection with that arrest.

Police in Massachusetts have also arrested Kennedy in November 2019 on cocaine trafficking and weapons charges. He was among six people arrested in that drug bust.

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