NORTH COLLINS – Erie County Sheriff John C. Garcia has announced the arrest of Ashley Bertino, 35, of Silver Creek after a long-term investigation into illegal narcotic sales at a grocery store.

Following a citizen complaint, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics and Intelligence Unit established a surveillance operation at the store which is located on Main Street in the village of North Collins. It is alleged that drug purchases were made from Bertino, who was working as a manager at the time, by the unit. An arrest warrant was signed by the Honorable John Stevens of North Collins Town Court on charges of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.

At approximately 2:40 p.m. on Wednesday, deputies from the Narcotics and Intelligence Unit executed the warrant at the grocery store. Upon taking Bertino into custody, deputies allege she was found to be in possession of a hand bag which included a dollar bill containing residue of suspected narcotics, a glass smoking device containing residue of suspected narcotics, five small bags containing suspected methamphetamines and one small bag containing three suspected hydrocodone pills.

With respect to the items discovered when the arrest warrant was executed, Bertino was additionally charged with two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Bertino was transported to the Erie County Holding Center to be held pending arraignment.