Drugs, Guns Found During Seatbelt Stop on the Thruway

NANUET, NY — A man stopped for not wearing a seatbelt is in Rockland County Jail after police found packets of crystal meth and eight illegal guns in his car. Ken Suwabe of Tuckahoe, NY was taken into custody after a traffic stop Saturday on the New York State Thruway in Clarkstown. He does not have a state firearm permit, police said.

Troopers stopped Suwabe at 12:17 p.m. June 3 for not wearing a seatbelt and other traffic infractions on I-87 Northbound near Exit 12.

The troopers observed small plastic bags of crystal methamphetamine in plain view as they approached Suwabe’s vehicle, a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix.

As Suwabe exited his vehicle, troopers saw Suwabe had a loaded .45 caliber pistol holstered on his belt. He was taken into custody.

During a search of the vehicle, police found six more loaded handguns, a loaded AR-15 assault rifle, a pistol silencer, high-capacity ammunition magazines, and small quantities of pills, cocaine, and heroin.

Suwabe does not have a permit to possess firearms in the State of New York, police said.

He was charged with eight counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, nine counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree for possession of the methamphetamine, and five counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.

He was arraigned before Town of Clarkstown Justice Scott Ugell and committed to Rockland County Jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bail.

PHOTOS/ New York State Police