Deputies find Illegal Handguns after Two Traffic Stops City of Syracuse, New York – The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office reports that four people have been charged with possessing an illegal handgun following two traffic stops the evening of November 2nd.
On Wednesday, November 2nd, at approximately 6:00 P.M., Deputies assigned to the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative detail, initiated a traffic stop in the 500 block of Park Street on a Saturn vehicle that had switched plates and was occupied by four individuals. The driver, identified as Diallo Pugh, 22 of Syracuse, was subsequently taken into custody for operating a motor vehicle that was unregistered and uninsured. Upon placing him into custody, deputies located an un-serialized P80 9mm ghost gun under the driver’s seat. The gun was loaded with 13 rounds in a 31 round magazine. While securing the gun, the three passengers fled on foot. With the assistance from Air 1, as well as additional deputies along with members of the Syracuse Police Department and New York State Police, a perimeter was quickly set up and a search of the area commenced. Two of the three passengers were located within the perimeter and taken into custody.
Pugh and the two passengers, Asiya Rice, 22 of Syracuse and a 17-year-old male were all charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the 2nd and 3rd degree as well as criminal possession of a firearm. Pugh and Rice are currently being held in the Justice Center and are expected to be arraigned sometime today. The 17- year-old male is being held at the Hillbrook Juvenile Detention Center and was expected to be arraigned the following morning in Youth Court. Deputies continue to search for the third passenger.
As deputies were handling this traffic stop, an additional traffic stop was conducted in the vicinity of Oak Street and Sidney Street by officers assigned to the same GIVE initiative. During this traffic stop, the front seat male passenger was observed in possession of a handgun. As the male was being escorted from the vehicle, he attempted to flee but was quickly taken to the ground and placed into custody. The gun was removed from the male and identified as a 9mm Smith & Wesson that was loaded with 18 rounds. The gun was later determined to be stolen from Ohio. The male suspect, a 17-year-old from Syracuse, was charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the 2nd and 3rd degree, criminal possession of a firearm and criminal possession of stolen property in the 4th degree. The male was arraigned in Youth Court and is currently being held in the Hillbrook Juvenile Detention Center on $20,000 cash or bond.
The Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative utilizes a coordinated, multi-agency approach to target, investigate, interdict, and prevent violent gun crimes, as well as the precursors to such activity, within the County of Onondaga. The ultimate goal of the GIVE initiative is to reduce shootings and firearm-related homicides.
