Traffic Stop Leads to the Recovery of 4 Loaded Handguns

On the evening of November 22, 2016 a Trooper assigned to the Narrowsburg substation stopped a vehicle on Rte 97 in the Town of Tusten.  Upon interviewing the driver Scott Helferich, age 34 of Honesdale, PA he was found to possess a loaded .40 caliber pistol and a quantity of heroin.  He was placed into custody.  Upon interviewing the front seat passenger, Dahmir Bethea, age 20 of Clifton, NJ he was found to possess a loaded 9mm pistol.  After being disarmed, Bethea fled on foot and fought with the Trooper before being placed into custody.  A third passenger, Jamar Thompson-Pressley was found to possess marijuana.

A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a loaded .38 caliber pistol, a loaded .45 caliber pistol and marijuana.

Helferich was charged with three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd Degree, felonies and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree, a misdemeanor.  Bethea was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd Degree, a felony, Resisting Arrest, Obstructing Governmental Administration 2nd, and False Personation, misdemeanors.  Investigation determined that Bethea was wanted by the Patterson, NJ Police Department for Attempted Murder stemming from a shooting incident in that city in January, 2016.  He has been charged as a Fugitive From Justice related to the outstanding warrant.  Thompson-Pressley was charged with Evidence Tampering, a felony and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, a violation.  All three subjects were arraigned in the Town of Tusten Court and remanded to the Sullivan County Jail.