Queensbury Man Faces Major Felony Charges After I-87 Cocaine Seizure

State Police say a traffic stop in Saratoga Springs led to the discovery of more than half a pound of suspected cocaine and two felony drug charges.

A Queensbury cocaine arrest on Interstate 87 led to serious felony charges after New York State Police said troopers discovered more than half a pound of a substance that field tested positive for cocaine. Chasaun M. Pearson, 33, of Queensbury, was arrested Aug. 17 following an afternoon traffic stop in Saratoga Springs, according to police and reporting by WNYT.

The case began at about 1:01 p.m. as Pearson was driving northbound on I-87, also known as the Northway. Police said troopers stopped the vehicle for multiple alleged vehicle and traffic law violations.

What followed turned a routine traffic enforcement stop into a major drug investigation.

State Police Say K9 Search Found More Than Half a Pound

According to State Police, members of the Troop G Community Stabilization Unit were involved in the stop. The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office assisted the investigation.

Sheriff’s Office K9 Bush was brought in during the investigation. Police said more than half a pound of a controlled substance was discovered inside the vehicle.

The substance was later field tested and showed a positive result for cocaine, according to authorities.

Pearson was arrested at the scene.

Police reported that he faces:

• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree

• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree

• Numerous vehicle and traffic law violations

The charges are accusations. Pearson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Why the Amount of Cocaine Matters Under New York Law

The amount police say they recovered is important because New York’s controlled-substance laws use specific weight thresholds for some felony possession charges.

Under New York Penal Law Section 220.21, a person may be charged with first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance when prosecutors allege that the person knowingly and unlawfully possessed a preparation, compound, mixture or substance containing a narcotic drug with an aggregate weight of eight ounces or more. The offense is classified under state law as a Class A-I felony.

A half-pound equals eight ounces. State Police reported finding more than half a pound, meaning the reported weight exceeds that statutory threshold.

That does not establish guilt. Prosecutors still must prove the elements of the charged offense in court, including legally sufficient evidence concerning possession, the nature of the substance and its weight.

Third-Degree Possession Also Carries Serious Consequences

New York Penal Law Section 220.16 includes several circumstances that can support a third-degree controlled-substance possession charge.

One provision applies when a person knowingly and unlawfully possesses a mixture containing a narcotic drug with an aggregate weight of at least one-half ounce. The statute classifies third-degree possession as a Class B felony.

The New York court system’s criminal jury instructions similarly describe possession of one-half ounce or more of a substance containing a narcotic drug as Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.

The specific legal theory prosecutors will rely on in Pearson’s case would ultimately be established through court filings and proceedings.

Pearson Arraigned and Sent to Saratoga County Jail

Following his arrest, Pearson was taken to the State Police barracks in Saratoga for processing.

He was then arraigned in Saratoga Springs City Court.

Police said Pearson was remanded to the Saratoga County Correctional Facility without bail. WNYT independently reported the same arraignment outcome.

No information provided by State Police indicated that additional people were charged in connection with the stop.

The available reporting also did not identify the specific traffic violations that prompted the initial stop.

Troop G Unit Has Focused on Drug and Gun Enforcement

The Troop G Community Stabilization Unit is not new to targeted enforcement along Capital Region highways and communities.

An earlier New York State Police annual report said that during the unit’s first seven months of operation in 2021, its members made roughly 1,200 traffic stops and 300 criminal arrests, including 63 felony arrests. Police also reported seizures of firearms and narcotics including cocaine, heroin and fentanyl during that period.

More recently, the unit has continued to conduct traffic-stop investigations involving suspected narcotics.

For example, State Police reported that a March 2026 I-87 traffic stop in Malta resulted in another seizure of more than half a pound of a substance that field tested positive for cocaine. A Flushing man was charged with first- and third-degree controlled-substance possession in that case.

In February 2025, the same unit, also working with the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office and K9 Bush, reported finding approximately 1.5 pounds of suspected methamphetamine during an I-87 traffic stop in Wilton.

Those separate arrests do not establish any connection to Pearson’s case. They do, however, show how traffic enforcement on the Northway has sometimes developed into larger narcotics investigations.

What Is a Field Test for Cocaine?

A field test is a preliminary test law enforcement can use to determine whether a seized material may contain a particular controlled substance.

It is important to distinguish a field test from a final laboratory analysis.

State Police said the substance recovered from Pearson’s vehicle field tested positive for containing cocaine. That wording matters. The available police account does not state that a final laboratory analysis had been completed at the time of the announcement.

For that reason, the substance should appropriately be described as suspected cocaine when discussing evidence that has not yet been established at trial.

The Case Now Moves Through the Court System

Felony drug arrests can generate dramatic headlines, particularly when police report quantities measured in ounces rather than grams. But an arrest is only the beginning of the criminal justice process.

Investigators must document how evidence was discovered and handled. Prosecutors must determine whether the evidence supports each element of each charge. Defense attorneys may challenge the legality of a traffic stop, search, identification of the substance or other evidence when legally appropriate.

Ultimately, a court determines what evidence may be admitted, and guilt must be established under the legal standard required in a criminal proceeding.

That distinction protects both public safety and constitutional rights.

Residents deserve accurate information about significant narcotics seizures. They also deserve reporting that does not treat an allegation as a conviction.

What We Know So Far

According to State Police and corroborating news coverage:

1. Pearson, 33, of Queensbury, was stopped on northbound I-87 in Saratoga Springs on Aug. 17.

2. Police said the stop occurred at approximately 1:01 p.m. for multiple traffic violations.

3. The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office assisted State Police during the investigation.

4. K9 Bush assisted during the stop.

5. Police reported recovering more than half a pound of a controlled substance.

6. The substance field tested positive for cocaine.

7. Pearson was charged with first- and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance along with traffic violations.

8. He was arraigned in Saratoga Springs City Court and remanded to the Saratoga County Correctional Facility without bail.

Why This Story Matters

Interstate 87 is one of Upstate New York’s major transportation corridors, connecting the Capital Region with communities farther north and ultimately the Canadian border.

Cases like this demonstrate how a traffic stop can quickly develop into a felony investigation when officers say they discover suspected narcotics.

At the same time, the public should keep an important distinction in mind: police reports describe what investigators allege occurred. They are not findings of guilt.

The next important information will come through the court process, where the prosecution’s evidence can be examined and challenged.

Utica Phoenix readers should continue to follow verified information from law enforcement and the courts rather than rumors or social media speculation as the case proceeds.

All criminal charges are allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.