Men from Olean, Belfast arrested by Livingston County Deputies

AVON:  Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty advises of the arrest of Karl E. Vattes, Samuel J. Kelley and David J. Vattes on numerous drug and traffic law charges.

Deputy Shawn Whitford of the Livingston County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop just off Route 15 (Lakeville Rd) in the Town of Avon for vehicle and traffic law violations.

Further investigation found that the operator of the vehicle, David J. Vattes, 37 years old of Olean, NY was operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver's license.  David Vattes

was also in possession of heroin and hypodermic needles.  Deputy Whitford also suspected David Vattes of operating under the influence of drugs.  Deputy Connor Sanford of the Sheriff's STOP DWI unit responded to the area of the stop.  Deputy Sanford later arrested David Vattes for DWAI Drugs. 

A drug evaluation was later conducted at the Sheriff's Office by Sergeant Joseph Breu who is a certified Drug Recognition Expert (DRE). It was concluded that Vattes was indeed under the influence of a narcotic analgesic.  David Vattes was also charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a motor vehicle in the Third Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th Degree, Criminal Possession of a hypodermic needle, as well as other Vehicle and Traffic Law violations.

The occupants of the vehicle Samuel J. Kelley, 32 years old of Olean, NYand Karl E. Vattes, 40 years old of Belfast, NY, were also charged.  Kelley was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th, and Criminal Possession of hypodermic needle, as well as Facilitating Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a motor vehicle in the Third Degree.  Karl Vattes was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th Degree and Criminal Possession of a Hypodermic needle.

Each of the men were arraigned in Avon Town Court, David Vattes and Samuel Kelley were remanded to the custody of the Sheriff on $2500.00 cash bail, or $5000.00 secured bond.  Karl Vattes was remanded to the custody of the Sheriff on no bail due to past felony convictions.   The three were turned over to the Livingston County Jail. 

The investigation and arrest(s) were handled by Deputy Shawn Whitford, Deputy Connor Sanford, Deputy Menzo Peck and Sergeant Joseph Breu.