Saratoga Springs firefighter charged with having crack cocaine

PHOTOGRAPHER: Lee Coleman

A six-year member of the Saratoga Springs Fire Department has been charged with felony possession of a controlled substance (crack cocaine) and endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly having young children in the home while involved with illegal drugs.

Justin R. Moran, 31, of Leonard Road, was arrested Thursday night after city police executed a search warrant at his residence as part of an ongoing investigation. Moran was also charged with misdemeanor criminal possession of hypodermic needles and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia.

The Saratoga Springs Police Department Special Investigation Unit and Criminal Investigation Unit executed the search warrant.

Police also charged Janel M. Sweet, 30, of Leonard Road, Moran’s girlfriend, with felony criminal possession of a controlled substance (crack cocaine), criminal possession of hypodermic needles, criminal possession of drug paraphernalia and endangering the welfare of a child.

The pair were arraigned in City Court and sent to the Saratoga County jail on $15,000 cash bail or $30,000 bond. They are scheduled to return to City Court at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Lt. John Catone, a police department spokesman, said there were two children in the home – ages 3 and 1 – at the time of the arrest. They have been placed with family members.

Catone stressed that the arrests stem from an ongoing narcotics investigation and did not originate from the city Department of Public Safety or the Fire Department.

Moran has been off-duty from his firefighter position on involuntary medical leave since Jan. 19, police said.