POUGHKEEPSIE – The understaffed City of Poughkeepsie police department took another gun off of the street on Thursday after a foot pursuit and physical confrontation with an armed man. The Town of Poughkeepsie police responded to the area to assist the city cops.
City cops stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation on Hudson Avenue around 6:00 p.m. Richard Whitted, a 50-year-old five-time felon fled from the vehicle on foot, with city cops giving chase.
When the officers made contact with Whitted, a physical struggle ensued as Whitted attempted to avoid returning to jail. Once the officers gained physical control of Whitted, a search of the man resulted in the discovery of a loaded gun in his waistband. Once the gun was taken from him, Whitted requested medical treatment, verbally claiming that he couldn’t breathe.
The officers transported Whitted to police headquarters where EMS personnel evaluated him and found no injuries. He was charged with the felonies of criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance along with resisting arrest and traffic violations.
A short time later police responded to the area of Casablanca grocery at 386 Main Street for reports of an armed man making threats to another individual.
Responding officers interviewed the alleged victim and canvassed the area in an attempt to locate the armed subject. As of 8:00 p.m., no armed individuals matching the description provided by the victim’s friend had been located.
VIDEO/AUDIO of the Casablanca incident:
