MIDDLEBURY — A Ferrisburgh man on Monday pleaded innocent in Addison Superior Court, criminal division, to three misdemeanor drug-related charges after having been stopped by Vermont State Police while driving along Route 17 in New Haven on July 10.
Chase L. Gallison, 23, of Ferrisburgh is answering to charges of driving under the influence of drugs; possession of under 200 milligrams of heroin; and possession of a depressant/stimulant/narcotic.
It was at around 11 p.m. on July 10 that VSP Trooper Tim Hanley was told to be on the lookout for a dark-colored, older Dodge truck that had been seen traveling erratically northbound on Route 22A, and then on Route 17 eastbound, according to court records.
“The caller advised this truck was all over the road and almost hit a tractor trailer unit head-on,” Hanley’s affidavit states.
Hanley came upon a truck fitting the description of the offending vehicle traveling on Route 17 in New Haven, according to court records.
“When I caught up I observed this vehicle cross the center line (of the road),” Hanley reported.
Hanley got the vehicle to pull over, and interviewed the driver, Gallison, according to court records.
“I noted that he displayed slow movements as if he were under water and then would transform to appear as though he were highly alert,” Hanley said.
Hanley also reported Gallison to have exhibited some grogginess, slurred speech and constricted eye pupils.
“Based on my training and experience, the drug category of narcotic analgesics will cause the pupils to constrict,” Hanley stated in his affidavit. “One specific drug in this category is heroin.”
Hanley conducted a field sobriety test and ultimately suspected that Gallison was under the influence of drugs, according to court records.
Gallison agreed to allow a search of his vehicle, which, according to Hanley’s report, yielded:
•  A blue container hosting 0.9 grams of a “green leafy substance” that Hanley believed to be marijuana.
•  A metal pipe containing burnt marijuana residue.
•  An empty heroin fold labeled “Pride and Glory.”
•  A used needle.
•  A fold containing 0.4 grams of a substance confirmed, by a field test, to be heroin.
•  A partial strip of Suboxone, a drug commonly used to wean patients off of opiates. Hanley reported that Gallison did not possess a prescription for Suboxone.
Gallison was taken to Porter Hospital, where he agreed to give a sample of his blood as evidence, according to Hanley. A toxicology report on that blood sample revealed several chemicals, including codeine and morphine, according to court records.
In addition to being charged with the three misdemeanor drug offenses, Gallison was issued a civil ticket for possession of marijuana, according to police.