Pot Break At Lunch Leads to Three Arrests Inspector General Announces

ALBANY, NY (01/05/2009)(readMedia)-- Three O.D. Heck employees were arrested Monday for allegedly smoking marijuana at the Schenectady Municipal Golf Course on their lunch break, New York State Inspector General Joseph Fisch announced.

Albert D. Carey, Jr., 57, Lloyd A. Schmidt, 55, and Michael J. Butkiewiez, 27, left the O.D. Heck Developmental Center on Balltown Road in Schmidt's pick-up truck, parked on East Holm Road and crossed some woods to the golf course, according to investigators, who said they observed them passing a marijuana pipe.

Investigators arrested the men, all Schenectady residents, after they attempted to drive back to O.D. Heck. All three were charged with criminal possession of marijuana in the fifth degree, a "Class B" misdemeanor. Schmidt also was charged with driving under the influence. Schmidt and Butkiewiez are grounds workers and Carey is a motor vehicle operator at the center. They were suspended without pay.

The arrests followed a complaint filed with the Inspector General by the state Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, which operates the O.D. Heck Developmental Center. Schenectady police assisted in the arrests.

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