Tuxedo, NY (WRGB) — New York State Police arrested three men on felony weapons and drug charges after troopers stopped a vehicle on the New York State Thruway in Orange County and found more than 1,000 grams of marijuana, cocaine, pills and a Polymer80 9mm pistol, police said.
Members of the New York State Police Troop F Community Stabilization Unit stopped a 2011 Mercedes-Benz at about 2:59 p.m. March 24, 2026, after observing it traveling northbound on I-87 in the Town of Tuxedo and committing multiple violations of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
Troopers identified the driver as 36-year-old Samuel Martinez of Amsterdam, and the passengers as 23-year-old Jahdell Young-Smith of Richmond, and 25-year-old Zimair Tindal of Brooklyn.
During the stop, New York State Police K9 Anson found narcotics inside the vehicle, police said. A search of the vehicle found about 5 grams of cocaine; about 3 grams of oxycodone hydrochloride in pill form; about 3 grams of acetaminophen and oxycodone hydrochloride in pill form; about 3 grams of oxycodone hydrochloride in pill form; about 6.4 grams of acetaminophen and oxycodone hydrochloride in pill form; about 1,021 grams of marijuana; a Polymer80 9mm pistol; and a 30-round 9mm magazine containing 31 rounds of ammunition.
Martinez, Young-Smith and Tindal were taken into custody and transported to New York State Police Monroe for processing without incident, police said.
All three were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, intent to sell, a Class B felony; criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, narcotic drug, a Class B felony; criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, narcotic drug, a Class C felony; criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, loaded firearm, a Class C felony; criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, ammunition feeding device, a Class D felony; criminal possession of a firearm, a Class E felony; criminal possession of cannabis in the third degree, more than 16 ounces, a Class A misdemeanor; and possession of a controlled substance outside of its original container, a violation.
Martinez was also issued multiple uniform traffic tickets.
All three were arraigned in the Orange County Centralized Arraignment Part. Martinez was remanded to the Orange County Jail without bail. Young-Smith and Tindal were remanded to the Orange County Jail with bail set at $25,000 cash, $50,000 bond, or $100,000 partially secured bond.