High on the hog: Slaughtered pig traded for crack, Syracuse police say

Robert A. Baker

The Post-Standard

Friday June 05, 2009, 3:44 PM

Syracuse, NY -- A Fulton resident was arrested Thursday for drug possession after police witnessed a drug transaction that was paid for, in part, with a half of a slaughtered pig, Syracuse police said.

Police were conducting surveillance about 7:40 p.m. in the 200 block of Merriman Avenue when they saw the two men conduct a drug transaction including the half of pig, Lt. Joe Cecile said.

The half of pig and $10 were used to buy a $50 bag of crack cocaine, police said.

The accused buyer, Angelo Colon, 45, of 303 Honeyhill Road, Fulton, was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor. Colon told police this was not the first time he drove into Syracuse with a slaughtered pig to trade for drugs, Cecile said.

The accused seller, Omar Veliz, 42, of 232 Merriman Ave., was charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony. Veliz also was charged with a felony and a misdemeanor charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Veliz told police the pig was for a celebration for a relative being released from jail, Cecile said.

As police arrested the pair, a crowd gathered around them. When the officers turned from the suspects, the pig was gone, Cecile said.