A late-night traffic stop in Poughkeepsie turned into a weapons bust early Sunday when officers say they found a loaded, stolen handgun in a car near Rinaldi Boulevard and Laurel Street around 2:50 a.m.
According to police, officers pulled the vehicle over in that area and discovered a loaded 9mm pistol inside. All three occupants were taken into custody and held pending arraignment.
As reported by Daily Voice, the handgun was identified by police as a 9mm Taurus G2C that had previously been reported stolen out of Charlotte, North Carolina. Authorities identified the three men as McArthur Nicks, 24, Camrin Young, 25, and Jaleel Santiago, 25. Police say each man was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. A photo of the seized firearm, credited to the department, appeared in the Daily Voice report.
Officers transported the trio to the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department headquarters at 62 Civic Center Plaza for processing. They were held there pending arraignment, according to local reporting.
Charges and legal note
Under New York law, possessing a loaded firearm outside one’s home or place of business can be charged as criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, a class C felony under New York Penal Law § 265.03, as listed on FindLaw. Possessing property that has been reported stolen can lead to criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree. When the property is a firearm, it is a class E felony under New York Penal Law § 165.45, as detailed on Justia.
Where this fits locally
The arrests land in the middle of a broader push across the Hudson Valley to get illegal guns off the streets. Police in the region have been recovering weapons during traffic stops, including in other recent cases in the Town of Poughkeepsie, as reported by News 12 Hudson Valley.
The City of Poughkeepsie also advertises a cash-for-tips program, offering $250 for information that leads to the recovery of an illegal gun and $500 for tips that lead to an arrest, according to the police department’s website.
Officials have not said whether additional charges will be filed as the investigation continues. Police asked anyone with information to contact the department’s tips hotline at 845-451-7577.
