A New York man accused of fleeing police during a narcotics investigation made an unexpected stop at a dumpster before continuing his escape. Unfortunately for him, investigators say they watched the entire thing unfold and recovered 475 grams of fentanyl from the dumpster shortly afterward.
According to the Utica Police Department, its Special Investigations Unit had been investigating narcotics sales and distribution for several weeks before attempting to stop a vehicle on October 6, 2026. Rather than pulling over, the driver accelerated through city streets, prompting officers to pursue him.
During the pursuit, investigators watched the driver pull into a parking lot, throw an item into a dumpster, and return to his vehicle. The driver then continued fleeing, although officers eventually canceled the pursuit because of safety concerns.
While the driver managed to get away temporarily, the item he left behind gave investigators something else to examine. Officers searched the dumpster and discovered approximately 475 grams of fentanyl, turning what had been a vehicle pursuit into a significant drug seizure.
Police Find Fentanyl in Dumpster
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Following the discovery, investigators reviewed surveillance footage and examined other evidence to determine who had been driving the vehicle. Police identified the driver as 27-year-old Fahir Garic of Utica and located him later that evening with assistance from the department’s GIVE, Warrants, and Patrol units.
Garic was transported to the Utica Police Department and charged with first-degree and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. The charges included possession of eight ounces or more of a narcotic drug and possession of a narcotic drug with intent to sell, according to the accompanying custody records.
Those records list Garic as being held on two charges as of October 7, one day after the pursuit. Although officers called off the chase itself, their observations and the surveillance footage helped investigators identify the driver without continuing the pursuit through city streets.
Additional Search Warrants Lead to a Lot
The investigation didn’t end with the fentanyl recovered from the dumpster, as Utica police obtained several additional search warrants that were executed on October 7. Investigators also conducted another vehicle stop involving a target of the ongoing narcotics investigation, taking that individual into custody.
During a search at 1223 Brinckerhoff Avenue, the Special Investigations Unit worked alongside METRO SWAT and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit to recover 613.2 grams of cocaine, two loaded handguns, and an assault rifle. Officers also found packaging materials, digital scales, and approximately $20,000 in cash at the property.
Police identified the second suspect as 45-year-old Anas Wilson of Rochester, who was charged with first-degree and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of criminal possession of a firearm, and multiple weapons offenses. Custody records list six charges for Wilson, including offenses involving a loaded firearm and a previous conviction, although police have not publicly detailed the specific relationship between Wilson and Garic or established that the two men were working together.