Troopers Seize Drugs, 8 Loaded Guns During Traffic Stop

  
PRESS RELEASE

State Police in Middletown report the arrest of Ken Suwabe, age 31, of Tuckahoe, NY during a traffic stop on the New York State Thruway in the Town of Clarkstown.  On June 3, 2017 at 12:17 PM, troopers stopped Suwabe for not wearing a seatbelt and other traffic infractions on I-87 Northbound near Exit 12.  The troopers observed small plastic bags of crystal methamphetamine in plain view as they approached Suwabe’s vehicle, a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix.  As Suwabe exited his vehicle, troopers observed Suwabe had a loaded .45 caliber pistol holstered on his belt.  He was taken into custody.  During a search of the vehicle, six additional loaded handguns, a loaded AR-15 assault rifle, a pistol silencer, high-capacity ammunition magazines, and small quantities of pills, cocaine, and heroin were located.  Suwabe does not have a permit to possess firearms in the State of New York.  He was charged with eight counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, nine counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree for possession of the methamphetamine, and five counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.  He was arraigned before Town of Clarkstown Justice Scott Ugell and committed to Rockland County Jail in lieu of $100,000.00 cash bail.