A Schenectady man who police said sold crack cocaine to an undercover officer was charged after allegedly having a 2-year-old unrestrained in the car during one of the sales.
Police arrested the man and a woman after a monthlong drug investigation, one of several crack cocaine-related investigations in the past few months.
Jesse J. Smith, 27, of Raymond Street and Sharena M. Brandow, 25, of Swan Street were arrested just before 8 p.m. Wednesday. Smith was charged with three counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, three counts of third-degree criminal drug possession and one count of fifth degree criminal drug possession, all felonies.
Brandow was charged with misdemeanor false impersonation, aggravated unlicensed operation, speeding and a seat belt violation for having a child in a vehicle without a safety seat.
Both also were charged with misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child.
Police were led to the two when street sources and neighbors of an East Side home said it was being used for drug deals. Neither the resident at the Park Place home nor the property owner are expected to be charged as a result of the investigation.
But Smith did allegedly sell crack cocaine during undercover operations on Sept. 15 and 16 at the home. Then on Wednesday, police said he traveled from Schenectady to sell crack, with Brandow driving the vehicle.
After he allegedly sold some of the drugs, police stopped the vehicle and arrested Smith. Police said Brandow lied about her birth date during the traffic stop and a 2-year-old was riding in the car’s back seat without a seatbelt or child safety seat.
Police said the child is related to Smith and has been released to a relative.
Smith is expected to be arraigned this morning; Brandow was released on $100 bail.
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