-from pressrepublican.com-

By Andrea VanValkenburg

SARANAC LAKE — A property-damage accident Thursday night allegedly led police to a stash of drugs, weapons and unlawful fireworks.
Around 8:20 p.m., Saranac Lake Village Police officers responded to an accident on Lake Flower Avenue.

When they arrived, one of the vehicles involved had fled.

After a canvass through the village, police located and stopped the vehicle on River Street. Village Police said officers saw a marijuana pipe and fireworks inside the car.

vehicle search
According to police, they secured and executed a search warrant for the vehicle and found about 1.25 ounces of cocaine, totaling a street value of nearly $3,000.

Police also found $1,800 in U.S. currency, drug paraphernalia and two knives, including a switch blade, during the search.

The driver of the car, an 18-year-old male from Florida, now faces numerous charges for the contents of the vehicle and for leaving the scene of the accident.

A teen, who was given youthful-offender status, was charged with two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both felonies, as well as two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, unlawfully dealing with fireworks, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and unlawful possession of marijuana. The teen was also ticketed for the accident.

An occupant in the car, Shela P. Jones, 25, of Florida, faces two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both felonies, as well as two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, unlawfully dealing with fireworks and unlawful possession of marijuana.

Both Jones and the teen were arraigned in Village Court and sent to the Franklin County Jail for lack of $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond.

They are due back in court at a later date.