A routine traffic stop in Rochester escalated into a foot chase and the recovery of an illegal firearm late last week.
State troopers arrested a Rochester man after stopping a vehicle for a defective headlight on Union Street just before 10 p.m. on January 31. During the stop, one of the occupants ran from the scene, prompting a brief pursuit.
Troopers identified the suspect as Amani Zaire Martinez, 22. Police said Martinez fled on foot as occupants exited the vehicle and was seen clutching his waistband while running. Troopers caught up to him a short distance away and took him into custody after he resisted arrest.
During the arrest, troopers recovered a loaded .40 caliber Glock handgun. Investigators later determined the firearm was a ghost gun and equipped with a high-capacity magazine containing 12 rounds of ammunition. Police secured the weapon and towed the vehicle involved.
Martinez faces multiple charges, including criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degrees, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree for the ghost gun, obstructing governmental administration, and resisting arrest.
Troopers transported Martinez to State Police Rochester for processing and later turned him over to the Monroe County Jail for centralized arraignment.
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