Drug detail in Rensselaer County leads to several arrests

Police in Rensselaer County arrested two Troy men after investigators observed a drug transaction between the two suspects, the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office said Friday.

The multi-agency drug detail had been focusing on drug activitiy in the area of Glen and Sixth Avenues in Troy, and arrested 42-year-old George Robbins and 42-year-old Randi Heid after witnessing the drug exchange on January 14th.

Robbins, of Sixth Avenue in Troy, was charged third-degree criminal sale of a narcotic drug; Heid, of Fox Street in Esperance, was charged with seventh-degree possession of a controlled substance.

Also arrested were 54-year-old Willie Nelson of Troy, on an indictment for criminal sale of a narcotic.

Twenty-eight-year-old Tiante Branch of Troy and 30-year-old Karen Gordon of Troy were also arrested during a parole investigation at 1524 15th St. Both were charged with marijuana possession; Branch was charged with a parole violation.

Robbins and Branch were sent to Rensselaer County Jail; Heid and Gordon were turned over to Troy Police for outstanding warrants; and Nelson was released after a court appearance Thursday.