Mount Pleasant Police

 

Local Arrest Leads to Large Arsenal Seizure

 

 

Local Arrest Leads to Large Arsenal Seizure

11/2/05 & 11/14/05

 

 

Mount Pleasant Police arrested Robert E. Klein, age 51, of 31 Sassi Dr., Croton on Hudson, in the Town of Cortlandt, charging him with Criminal Mischief Second Degree, a class D Felony and Reckless Endangerment Second Degree, a class A Misdemeanor.  This arrest stems from an investigation that was commenced on October when a Valhalla landlord, Michael Bruno, reported to Mount Pleasant Police that his former tenant, Robert Klein, had damaged his property, at 15 West Oxford St., by shooting firearms inside the rented residence.  Investigation revealed that not only the residence at 15 West Oxford was damaged by gunfire, but also a shed on that property, as well as two neighboring properties were damaged.  Also struck by gunfire was the residence of Sorcha Sproul, at 11 West Oxford St. and a garage belonging to James Riina, at 20 West Cambridge St.  Discharged rounds struck the exterior of the Sproul residence immediately adjacent to a child’s bedroom.

 

The arrest of Mr. Klein occurred on November 3, 2005, at which time he was arraigned in Mount Pleasant Justice Court, by Town Justice Anthony Servino.  Judge Servino issued a Temporary Order of Protection which mandated that Mr. Klein surrender all firearms.   Mr. Klein was released on $1000 cash bail.  When Mr. Klein failed to surrender any firearms, Mount Pleasant Police obtained a search warrant to search his home at 31 Sassi Dr. in the Town of Cortlandt.  Mount Pleasant Police executed this search warrant on November 14, 2005.  Numerous illegal weapons were seized including 68 firearms, switch blade and gravity knives and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition, including 10,000 rounds of Teflon coated “cop killer” 9mm bullets.

 

As the result of the seizure of these weapons, Mr. Klein was arrested by Mount Pleasant Police and charged with Criminal Contempt of Court in the Second Degree, a class A Misdemeanor, for violating the provisions of the Temporary Order of Protection.  Mount Pleasant Police notified the New York State Police, which has jurisdiction in the Town of Cortlandt, of the seizure of the illegal firearms.  NYSP has obtained a warrant for the arrest of Mr. Klein, charging him with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a class D Felony.  Mr. Klein was once again arraigned in Mount Pleasant Justice Court, by Town Justice Robert Ponzini.  Mr. Klein was remanded to the Westchester County Jail, no bail.

 

Based on evidence seized from the Klein residence and gunshot evidence recovered in Valhalla, Mount Pleasant Police realized that not all of Mr. Klein’s firearms had been recovered.  Working with the Westchester District Attorney’s Office and through Mr. Klein’s defense counsel, Mr. Klein agreed to identify the location of other firearms.

 

On November 16, 2005, Mount Pleasant Police executed a search warrant at Westy’s Self-storage, 395 Saw Mill River Rd., in the Town of Greenburgh.  Seized from a self-storage cubicle, that had been rented by Mr. Klein, were an additional 60 firearms, ammunition and illegal knives.

 

Mr. Klein remains remanded at the Westchester County Jail, no bail.