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The incident occurred in Sullivan County at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, on Route 17K in the town of Bloomingburg.
Trooper Steven Nevel said troopers noticed a 2017 GMC Yukon traveling westbound on 17K, violating numerous vehicle and traffic laws.
Troopers, with the assistance of the Wallkill Police Department in Orange County, made a traffic stop and identified the driver as Capital Region resident Albert Blowers, age 48, of Rensselaer, Nevel said.
While interviewing Blowers, troopers developed probable cause to search the vehicle and asked all five occupants to exit the SUV.
The four Capital Region passengers were identified as:
- Brian Bunting, age 42, of Rensselaer
- Thomas Mclaughlin, age 49, of Albany,
- Alex Sanford, age 26, of Rensselaer
- Anthony Walter, age 27, of Rensselaer.
Once removed, Nevel said Mclaughlin, Sanford, and Walters were found to have illegal firearms, one of them being a ghost gun.
A search of the vehicle revealed two additional illegal firearms located within the car, he added.
The five were arrested and charged with:
Albert Blowers:
- Criminal possession of a weapon
- Criminal possession of stolen property
- Multiple uniform traffic tickets.
Brian Bunting:
- Criminal possession of a weapon
- Criminal possession of stolen property
Anthony Walter:
- Criminal possession of a weapon 2 counts
- Criminal possession of stolen property
Alex Sanford:
- Criminal possession of a weapon 2 counts
- Criminal possession of stolen property
Thomas Mclaughlin:
- Criminal possession of a weapon 2 counts
- Criminal possession of stolen property
All were remanded to the Orange County Jail on $10,000 Cash, $20,000 Bond, and $40,000 Partial Secured Bond and ordered to reappear before the Town of Wallkill Court at a later date.
McLaughlin was held without bail.
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