Pennsylvania Fugitive Arrested With Stolen Gun and Drugs in Putnam County

A traffic stop led to weapon and drug charges against the driver, who was also wanted in Pennsylvania on a warrant. 

While on patrol, a Deputy Sheriff pulled over a vehicle on Route 9 for having an excessively loud muffler. During the course of the stop, the deputy ran a computer check on the driver, Benjamin Franklin Stine, IV, 24 of Hop Bottom, Pennsylvania which showed he was wanted on a bench warrant for a probation violation.

The deputy communicated with authorities in Pennsylvania, who said they would extradite Mr. Stine back to their jurisdiction on the warrant.

Further investigation revealed that Stine was in possession of a stolen and loaded .32 caliber revolver, an illegal gravity knife, and quantities of substances suspected to be crystal methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana.

Stine was charged with:

• Criminal Possession of a Weapon, second-degree - Felony
• Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, fourth-degree - Felony
• Criminal Possession of a Weapon, fourth-degree - Felony
• Possessing a Hypodermic Instrument
• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance (two counts)
• Unlawful Possession of Marijuana
• Traffic Infractions

Stine was arraigned and remanded to Putnam County Jail in lieu of $75,000 cash bail, or $150,000 bond. He is due back in court at a later date.