The incident happened in Orange County on Sunday, Jan. 19, at around 2:46 a.m., when City of Newburgh Police officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert for gunfire in the area of 35 Cerone Pl., the department announced on Friday, Jan. 24.
Police arrived at the scene and spotted a man in the area of the activation. As additional officers arrived, the man, identified as 50-year-old Samuel Ponder of Newburgh, allegedly threw a heavy object into nearby woods.
Police detained Ponder and conducted a search of the wooded area, where they located a loaded Glock 42 semiautomatic handgun with .380 caliber ammunition. Further investigation by police and a K9 unit named Raz led to the discovery of a spent .380 shell casing in the ShotSpotter activation zone, the department said.
Ponder was charged with:
- Second-degree criminal possession of a weapon;
- Third-degree criminal possession of a weapon;
- First-degree reckless endangerment;
- Fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact City of Newburgh Detectives at 845-569-7519. All calls will be kept confidential.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Philipstown and receive free news updates.