Clinton & Madison Men Face Numerous Drug Charges

A Clinton man was arrested Sunday evening and charged with a litany of drug offenses after stopped a car registered in his name being driven by a Madison man.

According to a press release issued late Sunday night by Clinton police, officer Greg Matakaetis pulled over a vehicle registered to Bryan Gallagher, 29, of Clinton, that was being driven by Nathaniel Etzel, 29, of Madison. Gallagher was also in the car.

Matakaetis found "hundreds of pills," including Oxycontin, Klonopin, Valium and others, along with 45 bags of heroin and $2,000 in cash, a BB gun, drug paraphernalia, night-vision goggles and binoculars, according to the release. Etzel also was found to be driving with a suspended license.

Gallagher, according to the release, admitted that all of the items belonged to him except for drug paraphernalia found in the driver's pocket.

Gallagher was charged with possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of narcotics with intent to sell within 1,500 feet of a school, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell within 1,500 feet of a school, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of weapons in a motor vehicle. He was held on $50,000 bond and is set to appear in Middletown Superior Court on Monday.

Etzel was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and released on a promise to appear for a court date of Aug. 14.