Man, Woman Accused of Gun, Drug Possession

Two Virginia residents are being held in the Rockland County Correctional Center in New City on weapons and drug charges after their car was stopped on the New York State Thruway by police and a loaded handgun and a small amount of marijuana were found in the car, according to State Police.

The driver of the car, Loren Mitchell, 47, of Montross, Va., was also accused of driving while impaired by drugs, a misdemeanor, during the investigation about 10:30 a.m. Thursday on the Thruway in South Nyack, police said.

Troopers from the Tarrytown barracks of the State Police stopped Mitchell and his passenger, Jennifer Kroft, 32, of King George, Va., for traffic violations as they were driving northbound. After an investigation that included using a police dog, "Marty," from the State Police K-9 unit based in Haverstraw, troopers said they found a loaded .38 caliber handgun and a small amount of marijuana in the car.

Mitchell and Kroft were both charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation. The were arraigned in South Nyack Justice Court and ordered held in the county jail.