Police found illegal handguns in a vehicle following a traffic stop in the town of Mamakating

On July 1, 2024, at approximately 4:52 p.m., on State Route 17 West in the Town of Mamakating, members of Troop F Community Stabilization Unit (CSU) observed a gray 2020 Dodge Durango operating in violation of multiple New York State vehicle and traffic laws. Officers stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver of the vehicle and its occupants.

As officers questioned the occupants of the vehicle, probable cause was established to search the vehicle. A dog was used during the search. Officers located an illegally loaded Taurus G3C .9mm semi-automatic pistol in the glove compartment. A second handgun, a loaded 9mm pistol, determined to be stolen, was located in the rear of the vehicle under a seat. Mercadiez Briggs, 22, of Sayre, Pennsylvania and Christopher Bruno, 22, of Chemung, New York were arrested and charged.

Mercadiez Briggs was charged with:

(Criminal possession of a weapon 2nd)

(Criminal possession of a firearm)

(Criminal possession of a weapon 3rd: ammunition feeding device)

Christophe Bruno was charged with:

(Criminal possession of a weapon 2nd)

(Criminal possession of a firearm)

(Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 4^th)

Both defendants were remanded to the Sullivan County Jail on $50,000 cash/$150,000 surety/$450,000 partial secured bail.