(Photo by Zachary Meseck)

CHENANGO COUNTY – On the same day that New York State’s criminal justice reforms went into effect, local law enforcement and the Chenango County District Attorney’s Office were forced to cope with the reality of the new laws.

According to Chenango County District Attorney Michael Ferrarese, while there was a meaningful criminal justice reform that could have been passed, what was implemented in New York State on January 1 was radical and dangerous for law abiding citizens.

“It is a very different approach then what we as prosecutors were able to do under the old criminal justice laws, and in plain terms it will take longer for an arrest to happen,” said the DA.

Ferrarese said an example of what will happen because of these reforms could be seen in the delayed arrest of suspects in an incident that occurred Wednesday night in the City of Norwich.

Norwich Police Department Detective Sergeant Reuben Roach said the incident occurred at approximately 10 p.m. on New Year's Day.

Police said three suspects were stopped after a caller reported a vehicle driving around the City of Norwich with people shooting a pellet gun out the vehicle's windows at pedestrians. Police said they discovered a CO2-based pellet gun and drugs.

Roach said during the stop police found meth and cocaine that were packaged for sale. He said the amount discovered could warrant multiple high level felony charges.