POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — An 18-year-old man was arrested on weapons and drug charges following a traffic stop on June 30, 2026.
Members of the New York State Police Troop K Community Stabilization Unit conducted the traffic stop at approximately 2:22 p.m. on a vehicle traveling southbound on Clover Street after observing violations of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
The vehicle was occupied by a 19-year-old male operator, a 20-year-old front seat passenger, and an 18-year-old rear seat passenger, all of Poughkeepsie.
During the investigation, members detected a strong odor of burnt cannabis emanating from the vehicle and determined that all three occupants were under the age of 21.
All occupants were asked to exit the vehicle.
As the 18-year-old rear seat passenger exited the vehicle, members observed a large bulge consistent with a concealed object in his pants.
A search of his person resulted in the recovery of a loaded, unserialized 9mm handgun, commonly referred to as a “ghost gun,” equipped with a 23-round high-capacity magazine, as well as a plastic bag containing cocaine residue.
The 19-year-old operator and the 20-year-old front seat passenger were released from the scene without charges.
The 18-year-old male was charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, a class C felony; criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a class D felony; criminal possession of a firearm, a class E felony; and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a class A misdemeanor.
The 18-year-old was arraigned in the City of Poughkeepsie Court and remanded to the Dutchess County Justice and Transition Center in lieu of $75,000 cash bail, $250,000 bond, or a $500,000 partially secured bond.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday, July 6, 2026, at 11 a.m.
