The investigation into a New Year’s Day incident that allegedly involved a handgun in the village of Penn Yan has resulted in one Yates County man facing a number of charges.
Chief Thomas Dunham tells Finger Lakes Daily News the arrest of Chad Jones happened after officers were called to a Penn Yan bar shortly after midnight on New Year’s Day. It’s alleged that the 33-year-old Dundee man had gotten into a fight with another person and pulled a gun on them. After detaining Jones, officers found a pair of brass knuckles and a cell phone on him, but no handgun.
A review of surveillance video from inside the bar showed Jones attacking another man and knocking him to the ground. Police say while both men were on the ground, the video showed Jones pulled a handgun from his waistband and brandished it at the man.
Chief Dunham said his officers were not made aware of the incident until an hour later when Jones returned to the bar and police were called. Officers eventually located a SCCY CPX-2 9mm semi-automatic handgun under a car in the nearby Microtel parking lot. The gun was loaded with ten rounds including a live round in the chamber.
A search warrant was later executed at Jones’ apartment on Highland Drive where a magazine for the handgun was recovered along with additional ammunition that matched the type found in the discarded handgun, a box for the handgun, and cell phones. Jones is a convicted felon and is prohibited from owning a gun.
Penn Yan Police are working with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to determine the origins of the handgun, which came from a person outside of New York.
Jones was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, menacing, assault, and disorderly conduct and was sent to Yates County Jail in lieu of bail.
