Oneida County man allegedly possessed purple drug, which contained traces of fentanyl

ROME- A Mohawk Valley man is faced with charges in the wake of a traffic stop Friday, where police found a purple colored substance that had traces of fentanyl.

Dale Croniser Jr., 33, of Rome, NY was arrested by the city police department for counts of criminally possessing a controlled substance and aggravated unlicensed operation.

It was shortly before 10:30 a.m. when patrols tried stopping Croniser Jr. on Bouck Street. Police said Croniser Jr. did stop the vehicle, but took-off on foot.

There was a brief chase before he was caught. It’s reported that Croniser Jr. had a suspended license and was operating a vehicle with switched plates.

He is also on parole for a previous drug charge.

During the arrest, police said they found nearly 14-grams of a purple powder substance, which soon tested positive for fentanyl.

In addition, Croniser Jr. also possessed a digital scale, packaging materials and nearly $900 in cash.

There were no additional details available from police.

Image courtesy via the Rome City Police Department.