AN ALLEGED GOUVERNEUR NARCOTICS PEDDLER IS IN ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY JAIL WITHOUT BAIL.

            THE COUNTY DRUG TASK FORCE SAYS AGENTS OBSERVED 42-YEAR-OLD MARK HARTLE OF SMITH ROAD ALLEGEDLY SELLING 100 OXYCONTIN PILLS AND 25 HYDROCODONE PILLS IN A DEAL THEY CAUGHT GOING DOWN IN A PARKING LOT OFF GOUVERNEUR STREET IN CANTON.  AGENTS FOLLOWED HARTLE’S VEHICLE OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND STOPPED.  HE WAS CHARGED WITH FELONY, SECOND DEGREE CRIMINAL SALE OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, ARRAIGNED BEFORE GOUVERNEUR JUSTICE STANLEY YOUNG AND SENT TO THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

            AGENTS EXECUTED A SEARCH WARRANT AT HARTLE’S RESIDENCE AND SEIZED MANY MORE PILLS, TWO RIFLES, A SHOTGUN, AND TWO MONITOR HEATERS BELIEVED TO BE STOLEN PROPERTY.   MEMBERS OF THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, CANTON POLICE, AND GOUVERNEUR POLICE WERE INVOLVED WITH THE BUST.

            AGENTS SAY CHARGES ARE PENDING AGAINST THE SECOND INDIVIDUAL INVOLVED WITH THE SALE, AND MORE CHARGES ARE ALSO PENDING AGAINST HARTLE.  

            HARTLE IS NO STRANGER TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OR THE COURT SYSTEM.  HE WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY IN THE NATIONALLY-PUBLICIZED ‘CASABLANCA RAPE CASE’ IN THE MID-1990’S.