New York State Police say troopers seized about 5,455 grams — roughly 12 pounds — of suspected fentanyl after a late-night pursuit that began on the Taconic State Parkway and ended in Putnam County, and arrested the driver, identified as Tyrike Gibbs, 36, of Brooklyn.

Source: New York State Police via The NY Pulse

According to the State Police account reported by The NY Pulse and WYDC-TV, troopers from Stormville tried to stop a 2012 Nissan travelling northbound on the Taconic State Parkway in East Fishkill at about 10:48 p.m. on Monday, October 19. Police say the driver did not comply, and a pursuit continued eastbound on Interstate 84.

During the pursuit, a tyre on the driver's side of the vehicle failed, the car became disabled and it came to rest on Carmel Avenue in the town of Southeast, in Putnam County, police said. Gibbs, the sole occupant, was taken into custody without further incident.

K9 search and charges

State Police said K9 Wild carried out an exterior sniff of the vehicle and alerted to the possible presence of narcotics. A subsequent search uncovered approximately 5,455 grams of suspected fentanyl, according to police.

Gibbs was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, a class A-I felony, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree with intent to sell, a class B felony, and unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the third degree, a class A misdemeanour, police said. These are allegations; he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

He was arraigned in Southeast Town Court and remanded to the Putnam County Jail, State Police said. Police have described the substance as suspected fentanyl; laboratory confirmation and any further court proceedings have not been detailed in the reports available.