‘It’s a shame’: Locals react to cocaine bust at popular Fairport canal restaurant

FAIRPORT, N.Y. — We shared some surprising news with people walking along the canal towpath in Fairport on Wednesday. They walked past a cocaine bust. News10NBC broke down Tuesday night. at 11.

Court records say two men were charged with selling bags of cocaine to undercover police as part of a county drug task force. Court documents say the sales occurred at a restaurant called Cluck If You Buck.

Richard T. Barley is accused of selling plastic bags of cocaine inside the store for $100, $200 and $300. Tharetoni J. Korokeyi is accused of selling one bag of cocaine for $80.

News10NBC investigative reporter Berkeley Breen went to Korokeyi’s townhouse in Fairport, but no one came to the door, despite someone apparently living in the house.

News10NBC met with Fairport Police Chief Matthew Barnes immediately after the arrest Tuesday night.

“No one is outstanding. Everyone of interest was taken into custody this evening,” Chief Barnes said.

Beverly Wagner has been walking this part of the canal for 35 years.

Wagner says it’s not unusual to see police, firefighters and RG&E driving down the road.

“I’m glad the police got them out of here because it should be a very safe place to go,” Wagner said.

Ginny Keegan, another canal walker, said: “I think it’s a shame. We have a lot of families walking along the canal and riding their bikes and we just had a lovely walk along the canal. It’s unfortunate to see this kind of behavior in our special area.”

State prison records show Barley served two sentences, one for drug possession and the other for weapons possession. State finance records show Korokeyi owed the state $51,000 in taxes in July. Today the balance is down to $16,000.

Korokeyi was released after his arrest. He will appear in court again the week of Thanksgiving. Due to his criminal history, Perinton City Court officials say Barley is being held in jail without bond. He’s in court Friday afternoon.

The arrests were made by members of a county drug ring called GRANET.

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