'ShotSpotter' Alert Leads To Suspect Who Threw Gun Into Woods: Police

NEWBURGH, NY — A man who tried to get rid of a gun by tossing it in the woods, failed to get one over on police and a canine officer, according to officials.

The City of Newburgh Police Department says that on January 19, at 2:46 a.m., officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation for two rounds in the area of 35 Cerone Place.

When the first officer arrived on the scene, he saw a man within the ShotSpotter activation zone, and requested additional officers. A second officer then arrived, approached the man, and saw him throw a heavy object into the woods. The suspect was detained and identified as 50-year-old Samuel Ponder, a City of Newburgh resident.

Police then canvassed the woods where Ponder threw the object and found a loaded Glock 42 semiautomatic handgun loaded with .380 caliber ammunition.

An officer, along with his K9 partner Raz, conducted a search of the area for the expended shell casings and found a spent .380 shell casing in the area of the ShotSpotter activation.

Ponder was charged with second degree criminal possession of a weapon, third degee criminal possession of a weapon, first degree reckless endangement, and fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Police ask that anyone with information about the incident contact City of Newburgh detectives at 845-569-7519. All calls will be kept confidential.