SCHENECTADY – Schenectady’s director of solid waste was arrested Wednesday, accused of purchasing cocaine while on the job and in a city truck, authorities said Thursday.
He has since resigned, Mayor Gary McCarthy said.
Floyd Slater, 52, of Schenectady, was arrested just before noon Wednesday and charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony, and misdemeanor official misconduct, according to police and allegations filed in court.
Slater served as the city’s director of solid waste and also appeared with the title of director of property management on the city’s website Thursday.
Slater had worked for the city for over 20 years, according to McCarthy. Slater, however, turned in his resignation Wednesday afternoon, according to McCarthy, timing that would place it after his arrest.
McCarthy declined to comment further, other than to note Slater’s resignation and that the criminal case would proceed on its own.
As director of solid waste, Slater oversaw the city’s garage collection fleet.
Slater is formally accused of purchasing cocaine at 11:51 a.m. Wednesday in the city, “while working as an employee for the city of Schenectady” during his working hours, according to police allegations filed in court.
Slater is also accused of obtaining the drugs while he “was operating his city owned Ford F-250,” the allegations read.
Slater is accused of possessing “a clear corner tie baggie containing an off white chunk substance” with a weight in excess of 500 milligrams. The substance tested positive for cocaine, according to police.
The allegations did not describe the circumstances under how Slater came to the attention of police.
Slater’s arrest comes four years after he became the center of a controversy for allegedly being involved in a crash in a city pickup truck, but not immediately going for drug or alcohol testing, newspaper records show.
In that incident, on Jan. 17, 2019, Slater was reportedly operating a pickup truck with a new plow blade mounted on it when it dropped unexpectedly. When he lifted it, it struck a vehicle in front of his truck. But rather than going for immediate testing, as required under city policy, Slater went several days later.
There is no indication that Slater was impaired at the time of the accident, officials said then. But city officials said the policy still should have been followed.
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