December 16, 2010

Media Release

Re: Syracuse Man Arrested For Selling Crack Cocaine

On Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at approximately 7:00pm in the 200 block of State
Street, Auburn Police Officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being operated by
Robert Lee Lewis knowing Lewis had an active warrant of arrest for endangering the
welfare of a child out of Auburn City Court. Members of the Finger Lakes Drug Task
Force also laid charges on Lewis for selling cocaine in the City of Auburn. FLDTF
members had conducted an investigation covering several months long into this
individual’s drug sale activity within the city.

Lewis was transported to Auburn Police Department Headquarters where a search of his
person was conducted. While searching Lewis, Officers noticed an item in between his
buttocks. Before the Officers could secure the evidence Lewis forcefully inserted the
item deep into his rectal cavity.

Believing that the defendant was in possession of additional narcotics and being aware
that drug dealers frequently place drugs in their rectums as a preferred method of hiding
narcotics from Police, Officers secured a Cayuga County court order directing the
retrieval of the suspected drugs from the defendant’s body. Officers then transported
Lewis to Auburn Memorial Hospital where medical intervention was needed in order to
recover the suspected evidence and to protect the defendant from the potential of the
suspected narcotics leaking into his blood stream. Once the evidence was recovered it
was discovered that the defendant was attempting to hide four small bags containing an
undisclosed amount of cocaine.

Lewis was subsequently held in the Auburn City Jail and arraigned on 12-16-2010 in
Auburn City Court where his bail was set at $7,500.00 cash/$15,000.00 bond.

Prepared by: Lt. Shawn I. Butler

315-255-4705 / sbutler@auburnpolice.net

46 North Street. Auburn, New York 13021-3699. (315) 255-4705. Fax (315) 255-4709
Arrested: Robert Lee Lewis / B-M / 30yoa
153 Seymour Street
Syracuse, NY

Charges: 1ct. Crim. Sale Controlled Substance 3rd / B Fel

1ct. Crim. Poss. Controlled Substance 3rd / B Fel
1ct. Endangering the Welfare of a Child / A Misd.

46 North Street. Auburn, New York 13021-3699. (315) 255-4705. Fax (315) 255-4709