Crime & Safety
Monroe County, NY Drug Bust: Man Held Without Bail After I-490 Stop
Rochester, NY – A 34 year old Rochester man faces multiple felony charges after allegedly refusing to stop for a sheriff's deputy and throwing a bag containing more than 22 ounces of suspected cocaine
By Rachel Monroe · 2026-10-26T20:09:45.960Z
Rochester, NY – A 34 year old Rochester man faces multiple felony charges after allegedly refusing to stop for a sheriff's deputy and throwing a bag containing more than 22 ounces of suspected cocaine from his vehicle during a Sunday afternoon incident in Monroe County.
According to the Monroe County Sheriff 's Office, the incident began around 2:40 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, when a deputy attempted to stop a 2021 Chevrolet Traverse displaying North Carolina license plates.
The vehicle was traveling westbound on Interstate 490 near Interstate 390 when the deputy initiated the attempted traffic stop.
Authorities said the driver allegedly refused to pull over and continued traveling toward the intersection of Chili Avenue and Stenwick Drive in the town of Chili, southwest of Rochester.
During the incident, the deputy reportedly observed the driver throw a black bag from the vehicle's window.
Additional deputies were notified and quickly recovered the discarded bag, which contained more than 22 ounces of a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine, according to investigators.
The driver subsequently stopped the vehicle and was taken into custody.
Authorities identified the suspect as Anthony V. Watson Jr., 34, of Rochester .
Watson was charged with first degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a Class A felony, along with felony driving while intoxicated and tampering with physical evidence, a Class E felony.
He also faces misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest, second degree obstructing governmental administration and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
Following his arrest, Watson was arraigned in Monroe County CAP Court and remanded to the Monroe County Jail, where authorities reported he was being held without bail.
The Sheriff's Office has not provided laboratory confirmation of the suspected cocaine in the information released.
The charges are allegations, and Watson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.