POUGHKEEPSIE – City of Poughkeepsie police have arrested a 38-year-old man after a Wednesday evening incident on Main Street. The 8:20 p.m. encounter was the result of an investigation by the city’s Neighborhood Recovery Unit (NRU).
According to police officials, multiple officers were dispatched to the area of 551 Main Street to assist the NRU with a field investigation. When the officers arrived, they located the suspect later identified as James Hughes, and attempted to detain him.
Hughes refused to comply with verbal commands from the officers and physically resisted being taken into custody. When he was finally secured, he was found to be in possession of a loaded 9mm handgun with no serial number or manufacturer markings. The weapon is commonly referred to as a “ghost gun.”
In addition to the weapon, he was found in possession of quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and MDMA (Ecstasy).
He was charged with the felonies of criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Hughes is currently under the supervision of the State Division of Parole for a previous weapons conviction. He was transported to police headquarters where he was booked and held for arraignment.
