NORWICH – The City of Norwich Police Department uncovered two unrelated drug cases on Friday, March 11, charging a number of suspects with felony possession of methamphetamine.

Police made the busts nearly 12 hours apart beginning Friday morning.

The NPD assisted members of New York State Parole with a home check at about 9:35 a.m. Friday at 6 Lee Avenue in Norwich.

According to police and information shared in court, inside the home several ounces of suspected meth was located, some reportedly hidden inside a toy box.

An illegal rifle was also discovered. Police said the 9 mm rifle was classified as an assault weapon under the NY SAFE Act and was not legal to own or buy in the state.

Norwich officers arrested the home's occupants, Michael A. Pierce, 34, and Jordann P. Maroney, 30, both residents. They were both charged with second and third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, Class A and B felonies.

They were also charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.

Pierce was charged with third degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class D Felony.

Norwich Police Chief Rodney Marsh said the drugs recovered during the arrest were methamphetamine and Suboxone.

“There was more than six ounces of methamphetamine recovered during this investigation and the weapon that was recovered was a 9 mm rifle,” he said. “The recovered meth had a street value in excess of $5,000 dollars.”

Pierce and Maroney were arraigned in Norwich City Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility without bail.

In an unrelated case at about 9:49 p.m. on Friday Norwich City officers conducted a traffic stop on Mitchell Street.

Police ended up chasing and catching a man who was wanted on several other charges, and they reported finding more meth.

Marsh said, “During the stop, the driver exited the vehicle and ran from the area. After a short foot pursuit, the driver was caught and taken into custody without further incident. During the investigation, the driver was found to be in possession of methamphetamine, which was packaged for sale.”

Norwich police charged Dylan T. Keenan, 23, of 477 Maple Dale Rd, Bridgewater, New York, with third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a Class A felony.

He was also charged with second degree obstruction of governmental administration and third degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, both misdemeanors.

Police said Keenan had several outstanding warrants from different police agencies.

He was released on an appearance ticket on the local charges but immediately turned over to the custody of the New York State Police for additional processing.

“This was the second arrest within twelve hours by officers of the Norwich Police Department, where a substantial amount of methamphetamine was recovered,” said Marsh. “The officers did an excellent job recovering these dangerous drugs and getting them off the streets.”