By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG
PLATTSBURGH — A downstate man who attempted to escape authorities by jumping into the Saranac River is now behind prison bars.
Members of the Adirondack Drug Task Force tracked Ferron Facey down in Plattsburgh last April as part of an ongoing drug investigation, suspecting that the 22-year-old Queens native had possessed cocaine in Plattsburgh.
After detaining Facey on a warrant, authorities brought him to the Plattsburgh City Police Station for questioning.
But before they made it inside, Facey darted away and jumped into the frigid waters of the nearby river.
Fast-acting City Police detectives were able to pull him from the water within minutes.
No one was injured during the escape attempt.
Recently, Facey returned to Clinton County Court and pleaded guilty to the original charge of obstructing governmental administration and a reduced count of felony drug possession.
Judge Kevin Ryan later sentenced him to 4½ years in prison, followed by three years of post-release supervision.
Facey is serving his time at Downstate Correctional Facility in Fishkill.
E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at: avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com
