Two Arrested After Utica Police Find Suspected Methamphetamine During Traffic Stop

According to the City of Utica Police Department On July 29th, 2026 at approximately 11:40PM officers assigned to the Tactical Unit conducted a vehicle stop on the 700 block of South St regarding NYSV&TL violations.

During the course of the stop a quantity of suspected methamphetamine was located and two individuals were arrested and transported to the Utica Police Department.

One of the individuals provided the booking officer with a name that they were subsequently booked, fingerprinted, and photographed under. When the fingerprint results were returned, it was learned that the name provided was in fact not the name provided to the officers.

At this time it was learned that the true identity of the individual was Branden Ward age 33 of Morris, NY.

At the conclusion of the incident, Ward was charged with:

Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the seventh degree

Forgery in the second degree