NORWICH – A Norwich man was sentenced to three years in state prison last week after police said they discovered more than $25,000 worth of cocaine hidden in the framework of the car he was driving during a police traffic sting in 2009.

Christopher S. Purdy, 41, of Fair Street, Norwich, pleaded guilty to second degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, an A-II class felony, and was sentenced by Chenango County Court Judge W. Howard Sullivan to three years in prison and five years post-release supervision following a plea arrangement with prosecutors.

Purdy, who has been incarcerated at the Chenango County Correctional Facility since his November 2009 arrest, will receive credit for time already served. District Attorney Joseph McBride also said police would seize the vehicle involved in the incident, which was owned by Purdy’s girlfriend, as part of agreement.

While on cross-examination by the defense in a November 2009 Norwich City Court felony hearing, Norwich Police Officer and K-9 handler Brandon Clarke testified that police specifically targeted Purdy and the Hyundai Tiburon he was driving, saying the incident “was not a routine traffic stop.”

Clark said he and two other officers on patrol were told by superiors to be on the lookout for the vehicle and potential drugs on Nov. 19, 2009 after investigators received a information that cocaine was being transported to Norwich from the Syracuse area.

Clarke said he and the other officers pulled Purdy over at 10:13 p.m., along Cortland Street. When asked if drugs were in the car, Purdy told officers, “no,” said Clarke.