Man Caught With Handgun During Hamptons Traffic Stop: Police

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — A South Carolina man was arrested in Bridgehampton Wednesday afternoon after he was caught with an unregistered handgun during a traffic stop, police said.

According to Southampton Town police, at around 3:45 PM p.m., William R. Blackwell, 62, of Wagener, South Carolina, was seen using a portable electronic device while operating a motor vehicle on Montauk Highway in the area of Snake Hollow Road in Bridgehampton; he was subsequently stopped for the traffic violation, authorities said.

During an interview with Blackwell, officers discovered that Blackwell was in possession of an

unregistered 9mm handgun firearm that is legally possessed by him in his home state of South Carolina, police said.

Blackwell was arrested and transported to the Southampton Town Police Department headquarters for arrest processing; he was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor, and a traffic violation, police said. Blackwell was issued a desk appearance ticket to return to the Southampton Town Justice Court at a later date.