Police: Homeless Man Charged with Drug Possession, Theft in Port Chester

A homeless man stopped by police for trespassing at a Port Chester public housing building was charged with illegal drug possession, theft and resisting arrest after he was involved with a chase, according to Port Chester Police.

Police said Curtis Stamps, 45, was also hit with pepper spray by a village police officer during a confrontation at Waterfront Place.

Stamps was spotted by a village officer on Purdy Avenue at about 12:20 p.m. on Monday. The officer, police said, knew that a warrant had been filed against Stamps in connection with a Jan. 18 incident at 70 Purdy Ave., a Port Chester public housing building where Stamps had been put on a "no trespassing" list.

Police said that when a village officer tried to stop Stamps, the man rode away on a bicycle. A short time later, Stamps was found at Waterfront Place, where he was subdued with the use of pepper spray. Police said Stamps was not injured in the incident.

When Stamps was arrested, police said he had a small container that held envelopes with heroin and cocaine. As a result, he was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

After his arrest, Stamps was also charged with two counts of petty larceny in connection with incidents on Feb. 2 and 3 at a store at 15 Waterfront Place. Police said Stamps is accused of taking $100 worth of items at around the same time — 10:45 p.m. - each night.

Theft charges were filed against Stamps, police said, after store security reviewed video from the two incidents, police said.

Stamps was arraigned in Port Chester Village Court and ordered held in the Westchester County Jail without bail pending a hearing later this week.