POUGHKEEPSIE – A 26-year-old man, who is on parole, has been arrested and an illegal handgun taken off the streets after an early-morning traffic stop on Sunday by Poughkeepsie City Police.
Police officials say that an officer conducted a traffic stop on Sunday morning at approximately 12:23 a.m. near the intersection of Catharine and Main Streets. As the officer was interviewing the vehicle’s diver, one of the passengers attempted to run away from the scene, initiating a foot pursuit by officers. During the chase, one officer witnessed the man throw a handgun under a parked vehicle. Shortly after the suspect tossed the gun, officers apprehended him.
Brian Atkins was apprehended on Academy Street and police recovered a 9mm Taurus semi-automatic pistol loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition under a parked vehicle. The handgun was processed by crime-scene technicians.
Atkins, a parolee with an extensive criminal record, was arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges related to the possession of the weapon and attempting to evade the police. He is being held in the city lockup pending arraignment on the charges.
Police are asking anyone with information regarding this, or any other crime, to contact them at 845-451-7577.
