At approximately 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, Westchester Count Police officers stopped Jose Ramirez, 35, on the Hutchinson River Parkway near Webster Avenue for a traffic violation, O'Leary said. Upon approaching the vehicle, they found that the driver did not have a valid license and was not listed on the rental agreement for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata, which smelled of marijuana, O'Leary said.
Ramirez was taken into custody, and a search of the rental car by police K-9 units discovered a loaded handgun inside a duffle bag and 13 ounces of marijuana inside a plastic container hidden near a wheel well in the trunk.
Upon further investigation, police discovered that the gun was stolen in Texas, and Ramirez - who has a lengthy criminal record, according to Westchester County Police - had a warrant out for his arrest in Atlantic County, N.J for burglary.
The Bowie, Texas native was charged with felony counts of criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of marijuana. He was also charged with criminal possession of stolen property, a misdemeanor.
Ramirez was arraigned in New Rochelle City Court and remanded without bail to the Westchester County Jail in Valhalla.
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