POUGHKEEPSIE – A 22-year-old
Poughkeepsie man is in the Dutchess County Jail following his arrest on
illegal gun possession charges.
On Saturday evening, city police officers from the Neighborhood Recovery
Unit were talking with a man, later identified as Kwasi Hamilton, on North
Hamilton Street. He initially gave police a false name.
While they were talking with him, Hamilton pushed a 9-year-old boy between
the officers and himself and took off on foot. As he was being chased
by police, he pulled a handgun from his waistband, threw it to the ground,
and fled through the Fallkill Creek before being taken into custody.
The gun was found to have its serial number removed.
Hamilton was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon
as felonies and endangering the welfare of a minor.
He also had warrants for his arrest from the City of Beacon and Putnam
County Sheriff’s Office.
