Richard Gargula, 34, of Pike, was arrested following a traffic stop on Shearing Road in the Town of Gainesville on August 11, 2017.
Gargula was stopped after he was observed driving a vehicle with a suspended driver’s license. Gargula failed field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for driving while impaired by drugs. He was found to be in possession of suspected cocaine and heroin.
Gargula was evaluated by a Drug Recognition Expert and found to be impaired by multiple drug categories. Gargula is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance (A misdemeanor), driving while ability impaired by Drugs (misdemeanor), aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd (misdemeanor) and tampering with physical evidence (Class E Felony).
During the traffic stop, Gargula attempted to conceal evidence by getting out of his car and tossing suspected cocaine inside a nearby residence.
Gargula was arraigned in the Village of Warsaw Court and committed to Wyoming County Jail on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond. He is due back in court at a later date.
The Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene of a car versus motorcycle collision on Route 19A at Denton Corners Road in the Town of Genesee Falls on August 13, 2017.
It was found that Royal E. Bailey, 77, was stopped at a stop sign on Denton Corners Road facing east, and Bailey turned his vehicle north onto Route 19A into the lane of an oncoming motorcycle. The motorcycle, operated by Jeremy M. Mellin, 32 of Hume, NY, was forced off the roadway after colliding with Bailey’s vehicle.
Mellin was not injured, however Mellin’s passenger was ejected from the motorcycle and later flown by Mercy Flight to Erie County Medical Center for a back injury. Bailey was issued a traffic ticket for failure to yield the right of way at a stop sign, and he was scheduled to answer the ticket in the Town of Genesee Falls Court on August 23, 2017.
During investigation at the scene, Mellin was found to have been operating his motorcycle without a motorcycle license. Mellin was also asked to perform field sobriety testing. Following field sobriety testing, Mellin was taken into custody and charged with DWI, unlicensed operator, and refused breath test (roadside pre-screen device). Mellin also refused to submit to a chemical test to determine the alcohol or drug content of his blood.
Mellin was arraigned in the Town of Genesee Falls Court where his license was suspended for refusal to submit to a chemical test. He is scheduled for a DMV Refusal Hearing at the Batavia Town Hall on September 15, 2017 at 1:00p.m.
Mellin was released from custody and is scheduled to return to the Town of Genesee Falls Court on September 13, 2017 at 3:00p.m. for further proceedings. The investigation into this motor vehicle collision is still ongoing, and further charges are possible.
Assisting at the scene were New York State Police, New York State Park Police, Pike Fire Department, Nunda Fire Department, Medic 80, Mercy Flight, and Barber’s Automotive.