Staff Report
COOPERSTOWN _ A 22-year-old woman was arrested in the village of Cooperstown on Saturday for allegedly having 13 syringes filled with heroin.
Melissa A. Welch of Cooperstown was charged at about 10:30 a.m. with possessing hypodermic needles and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Welch was arrested by Cooperstown Village Police after they and Otsego County Sheriff's deputies arrested a man wanted at a Walnut Street residence on an unrelated matter. That man, Orin Lilienthal, was wanted on a warrant from the Utica Police Department.
During Lilienthal's arrest, police and deputies discovered narcotics paraphernalia in plain sight throughout the Walnut Street residence, police said. This led to a search of the entire residence with the help of a K-9 unit.
Welch allegedly had 13 syringes filled with heroin, heroin packets and other drug paraphernalia.
The syringes are being examined at a laboratory to determine the exact quantity they were holding, police said.
Deputies had received a tip that Lilienthal was visiting a residence on Walnut Street, police said.
Lilienthal, 28, of Cooperstown, was arrested on a bench warrant.
Welch was issued appearance tickets for Cooperstown Village Court and released.
