COHOES, NY — Five individuals, including three juveniles, were arrested Saturday night after police recovered a loaded ghost gun during a traffic stop.
Officers responded to a report of suspicious activity involving multiple individuals and a firearm in the area of Congress Street and White Street at approximately 10 p.m. on June 6.
Callers reported that two males exited a U-Haul van and attempted to enter a residence, while another individual remained inside the vehicle.
Officers located the white U-Haul van traveling through the area and conducted a high-risk stop on Bedford Street after observing multiple traffic violations.
The driver, Raesawn Evans, 20, of Cohoes, complied with commands and was taken into custody without incident.
A passenger, a 15-year-old juvenile from Albany, briefly fled on foot but was apprehended moments later.
The remaining occupants — Jayden Robinson, 18, of Albany; a 16-year-old juvenile from Cohoes; and a 13-year-old juvenile from Cohoes — were safely detained without incident.
New York State Police K-9 and members of the Green Island Police Department responded to assist with the investigation.
All individuals were transported to the Cohoes Police Station for processing, and contact was made with the juveniles’ legal guardians.
Officers recovered a red handgun and a 15-round Glock magazine from inside the vehicle.
The firearm was determined to be a ghost gun equipped and loaded with 14 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition.
Additional items, including a ski mask, jacket and cellphone, were secured as evidence.
Evans, Robinson and the three juveniles were charged with criminal use of a firearm in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
Evans was also issued traffic infractions for illegal signal and failure to stop at a stop sign.
Evans and Robinson were arraigned in Cohoes City Court before Judge Knowles and remanded to the Albany County Correctional Facility on $100,000 cash bail or $200,000 bail bond.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
The three juveniles were brought before the Albany County Accessible Magistrate Judge Raymond.
The 13-year-old and 15-year-old juveniles were lodged at the Capital District Juvenile Secure Detention Facility as pre-arraigned detainees.
The 16-year-old juvenile was remanded to the Capital District Juvenile Secure Detention Facility.
