Traffic stop leads to drugs and weapons

The New York State Police at Wurtsboro announce the arrest of Robert Ballard, 45, and Simona Ballard, 43, both of Rock Hill, N.Y., for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 1^st Degree, a class A-1 felony, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2^nd Degree (2 counts), class C violent felonies, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 3^rdDegree (2 counts), and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3^rd Degree (3 counts).  The Ballards were arrested after a vehicle and traffic stop on Route 17 on Friday, February 12, 2016, in the Town of Mamakating by Troopers and the discovery of approximately 11 ounces of powder cocaine, with a street value of approximately $20,000, and a blackjack inside the vehicle.  A subsequent search warrant executed on the couple’s home on Dartmouth Drive in Rock Hill revealed an additional quantity of cocaine and approximately 46 grams of heroin, along with two loaded firearms, one of which was defaced.  Robert Ballard and Simona Ballard were arraigned and remanded to the Sullivan County Jail without bail.