Man Wanted For Attempted Murder In N.J. Jailed For Gun Possession in Hudson Valley

A man who allegedly told a friend to "get the strap and smoke" a local police officer is heading to prison.

On Monday in Sullivan County Court, 21-year-old Dahmir Bethea of Patterson, N.J., was sentenced to 10 years in state prison for possession of an illegal and loaded handgun.

On Nov. 22, 2016, Bethea was a passenger in a car that was pulled over by State Police on State Route 97 in the Town of Tusten. During an interview, Bethea revealed a fully loaded and operational Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun in his waistband.

After the trooper found and secured the handgun Bethea fled to a wooded area and shouted for another occupant of the vehicle to "get the strap and smoke," the trooper, officials say.

The other passenger didn’t listen and after a brief pursuit Bethea was taken into custody.

A search of the vehicle revealed another fully loaded handgun under a front seat of the vehicle.

Bethea was previously convicted in New Jersey in 2015 for possession of heroin with the intent to sell near a school.

When he was arrested in Sullivan County, Bethea was wanted in New Jersey for an attempted murder. He will face trial there and be extradited to New Jersey on that charge in the future.

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