Forestport resident faced with drugs charges following arrest at Sangertown Mall in New Hartford

NEW HARTFORD- A local resident from Northern Oneida County is faced with a list of charges, including drug possession, after being arrested in the Mohawk Valley.

At around 2:00 a.m. Friday, patrols via New Hartford Police Department received complaints of a suspicious male subject going through dumpsters and trying to gain access to the Sangertown Square Mall.

Security personnel requested police response to help remove the subject. Meanwhile, security guards noticed that the male was associated with a dark colored Jeep, which was parked nearby.

While investigating, Police located Nicole Lighthall, 27, of Foresport, NY, asleep in the driver’s seat.

While attempting to wake Lighthall up, evidence of drugs was reportedly observed in plain view by responding officers.

Once Lighthall was woken up by Police and removed from the vehicle Police Officers observed an additional plastic baggie, containing what was later confirmed to be fentanyl, partially concealed under Lighthall's clothing.

A further search of the vehicle resulted in Police Officers recovering an additional approximately eleven grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, investigators said.

As a result of this investigation and arrest, Lighthall was formally charged with one felony count of criminally possessing a controlled substance in the fourth-degree; two misdemeanor counts of criminally possessing a controlled substance in the seventh-degree and one more misdemeanor count of obstructing governmental administration.

Lighthall was taken to the Oneida County Jail, pending arraignment in CAP Court.

Police released no further details regarding the male subject.

Image via New Hartford Police Department.