Police: Passenger was smoking pot, had stolen gun

A routine traffic stop Friday morning on the Southern State Parkway led to charges against a Brooklyn man of possession of a stolen handgun, State Police said.

Trooper Fredrick Ortiz pulled over a 2006 Hyundai on the eastbound side of the parkway near Exit 18, Eagle Avenue, in Hempstead and noticed the passenger smoking what appeared to be marijuana, police said.

Ortiz investigated and found a loaded 9-mm pistol in the front passenger area, police said. Further investigation revealed the handgun was reported stolen in Chesterfield, Va., in 2007.

Police arrested the driver, Loreal N. Chin, 24, of Freeport, and the passenger, Manuel Ramos, 21, of Brooklyn.

Ramos is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of stolen property and unlawful possession of marijuana. He is expected to be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead.

Chin was released on a traffic infraction and was not charged in connection with the weapon, police said.

PHOTOS: Click here to see mug shots of this and other recent LI suspects