E. Rochester man nabbed second time in downtown drug incident

Jason A. Johnson (Rochester Police photo)

ROCHESTER - An East Rochester man was arrested on Wednesday following a report of suspicious drug activity on River Street.

Police responded around 7:40 p.m. to the area and arrested Jason A. Johnson, 41, of 18 Lighthouse Lane, on charges of possession of controlled drugs, falsifying physical evidence, resisting arrest and criminal threatening.

According to Rochester Police Capt. Gary Boudreau, Johnson refused to put his hands behind his back as told when police tried to arrest him. Johnson then began to walk away, and when two officers attempted to grab his arms to handcuff him, he flexed up and tried to push them off, Boudreau noted.

The falsifying physical evidence charge was added because as officers asked him for a spoon they saw in his possession, instead of giving it to them, he licked it and threw it in the dirt, compromising possible evidence, Boudreau said. Spoons are often used to "cook" illegal drugs like heroin, which police suspect he had on him.

Johnson is also accused of threatening bodily harm to one of the officers.

An ambulance was dispatched due to a possible diabetic issue, but later canceled, and Johnson was taken to Strafford County Jail in Dover.

Johnson was due to be arraigned by video sometime today in Rochester District Court.

In December 2014 Johnson was arrested for alleged possession of crack cocaine.

Then living on King Street, he was charged with felony possession.

That arrest was in connection with an incident in September on Lafayette Street where officers made contact with Johnson who appeared visibly impaired. Through their investigation officers found drug paraphernalia, which was sent and tested at the state forensic lab.