Find a Loaded 9MM Gun and Unlicensed Drunk Driver
The Westchester County Police Department posted on social media about a recent traffic stop by an officer on the Saw Mill River Parkway.
Our latest installment of Tales From the Midnight Tour begins with an eagle-eyed officer who spotted a BMW sedan sporting bogus Tennessee license plates, no inspection sticker and a registration sticker that expired in 2010.
That’s not a typo. The registration on the vehicle expired more than 13 years ago.
The Beemer cruised past our officer just before 3 a.m. as he monitored traffic on the southbound Saw Mill River Parkway near Marble Avenue in Thornwood. Following a traffic stop, the officer detected a strong odor of alcohol on the driver’s breath and the odor of burnt marijuana on his clothing. A field sobriety test was conducted, the driver didn’t exactly ace it, and he was placed under arrest.
A computer check revealed that the man’s license had been revoked. A subsequent search of his vehicle turned up a loaded 9 mm handgun.
We share this tale as another example of the vigilance that our Patrol officers regularly demonstrate in the performance of their duties, including in the wee hours when most of us are fast asleep. This officer took a gun off the street and an impaired driver off our roads. All kinds of potential tragedies thwarted right there.
The driver, a 42-year-old Bronx man, was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 1st Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd Degree, felonies; and Driving While Intoxicated, a misdemeanor. He also was issued multiple summonses for violations including improper plates, no insurance, no inspection certificate, open container of alcohol and not wearing a seat belt.