State Police Chase Leads To Teens With A Distinctive Handgun: NYSP

WALLKILL, NY — A traffic stop turned into a heart-racing pursuit in the Town of Wallkill this week.

On Tuesday, at 2:16 p.m., members of the New York State Police Troop F Community Stabilization Unit (CSU) attempted to pull over a 2010 Honda Accord traveling west on Interstate 84, in the town of Wallkill, but the vehicle failed to comply, and troopers gave chase. The Honda exited Interstate 84 at Exit 19A, continuing west onto State Route 17, where the occupants discarded a black and silver handgun from the vehicle, police said. A loaded black and silver Smith & Wesson handgun was later recovered from the area, according to NYSP.

The pursuit continued onto Route 302, then onto Amy Lane in the town of Wallkill, where the vehicle became disabled on the lawn of a home after hitting a boat trailer. Both occupants of the car fled on foot.

The driver, identified as an 18-year-old man from Port Jervis, attempted to steal a scooter from a girl in an effort to get away, but he was subdued by a 16-year-old good Samaritan, who restrained him until troopers arrived and took him into custody.

The passenger, identified as 19-year-old Ahjai A. Brand, of Middletown, fled on foot and was later apprehended in the City of Middletown after a brief foot pursuit.

Brand was charged with felony criminal possession of a weapon with a previous conviction, and felony tampering with evidence.

The 18-year-old driver was charged with felony criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment, robbery, fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, reckless driving, and tampering with physical evidence. He was also given a number of traffic tickets.

Brand and the 18-year-old male were arraigned in Wallkill Town Court and remanded to the Orange County Jail.

The New York State Police were assisted by the City of Middletown Police Department, the Town of Wallkill Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Rockland County Sheriff's K-9 Unit, the City of Newburgh Police Department, and various New York State Police specialty units, including the Forensic Investigation Unit, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), and K-9 Unit.