An Army soldier armed with a handgun was arrested and charged with a felony after he and a group of men were seen wearing fatigues and carrying firearms near a Black Lives Matter rally in Troy, NY, over the weekend.
Troy Deputy Police Chief Dan DeWolf praised his officers for arresting the men, claiming they “averted what may have become a violent encounter that day,” according to local media.
Noah Latham, 22, is stationed in Fort Drum, a three-hour drive from where he was arrested. He’s been charged with a single felony count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, which carries a maximum 15-year jail sentence.
Media reports also cite the arrest report, which claims Latham was in possession of a “Glock-style automatic handgun.”
The ambiguity of Latham’s charges is reason for concern, according to Steve Felano of the New York gun rights group 2ANYS. The charges appear to stem from Section 400 of New York State Penal Law, and Felano said they likely relate to not having a valid pistol permit or the weapon not appearing on the permit as a possessed weapon.
Still, “it is certainly suspicious that there is no mention whether or not the soldier holds a valid pistol permit,” Felano told GunsAmerica.
When asked to clarify Latham’s charges, the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s office told GunsAmerica that they do not comment on ongoing investigations.
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Latham was with several other men who were also carrying firearms near the BLM rally. The other men were also taken into custody, but no charges have yet been filed.
Police have not said why they think the men were in Troy, but one official told the media that the men arrested with Latham are from the surrounding county.
Latham was an advocate for Second Amendment rights. He led a petition drive to make Jefferson County a Second Amendment sanctuary and garnered 2,326 signatures. His efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, though Jefferson County did pass a resolution in support of the Second Amendment.
Felano believes Latham’s advocacy work could have contributed to his charges.
“I would not be surprised to learn that this is really about First Amendment retaliation for past Second Amendment advocacy,” he told GunsAmerica.
Latham is a member of the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum in Jefferson County. He is a specialist E-4 who flies drones for the division.
“We are aware of it. We’ll let it play out,” Major Harold Huff, a spokesman for Fort Drum, told local media regarding Latham’s incarceration in the county jail.
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Troy Mayor Patrick Madden put out a statement praising the police for taking the group into custody.
“I applaud the rapid response of Troy police and our law enforcement partners to an incident involving several suspicious individuals carrying handguns,” the statement read. “These individuals have been detained and are being questioned by Troy police. Thank you to Chief Owens, our police officers, and assisting agencies in response to this incident, and their professionalism demonstrated throughout Sunday’s rally.”
Latham is being held without bail at the Rensselaer County jail.
The Troy police department refused to release the report of this incident to GunsAmerica, citing an ongoing investigation.
Things I believe are about to boil over and when it does I do not think it will be pretty. It would not surprise me if the election out come goes to the left that all hell breaks out. Vote: TRUMP 2020!
NY, Cal and several other states have been taken over by communists. Other states have and will follow.
“I applaud the rapid response of Troy police and our law enforcement partners to an incident involving several suspicious individuals carrying handguns,” the statement read. “These individuals should have had their necks knelt upon by Troy police.”
You don’t need any license to own a gun and you have the right to BEAR arms. The sheriff is an idiot.
Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property… Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them.
Thomas Paine
Unless the suspect is a clear and imminant danger to others or he is a flight risk there in no reason NOT to grant him Bond that is reasonable. He has not done or said anything that indicates others have a reason to be afraid of him and as he is a current member of the United States Armed Forces, ie the US Army, he is hardly a flight risk. He shoud be granted bond or better yet, Released on his own Recoginance.
I have lived in SD most of my life and I have had a SD CCP since they first came out about 40 years ago. In all those years I have been waiting for The Right to give us National Carry, and it appears they ain’t in any hurry. Plus while the right is at it get rid of all those Gun Free Zone AKA most Government Building! Am I picking on The Right, nope just trying to get them to do what they say they want, or mayb calling em out for their BS.
As for This Army Guy. My Draft # 252 to Nam. Since way back then Stupid is what Stupid does. It appears he did not have the legal papers to carry in NY. Like it or not The Law is The Law. If you want to protest it change it go ahead and I hope you get me National Carry while your at it. When I travel I have a Semi Auto 40 attached to my dash just below the steering wheel, plus a 357 in the small of may back, and a 40 Keltec Folder with 30 round mags behind the drivers set or there abouts. Thus I want National Carry as I plan on visiting NY soon. God Bless Us All
Wow, I didn’t know Glocks were “automatic”. Best kept secret in the world!
Glock 18 is full and semi. It has a cute little selector switch.
I know I carried one on my protection details I am a retired federal law enforcement officer.
if there is no more to the story, ie brandishing or threatening others, then this sheriff has got to go. Soldiers of our country, trained by our country, embarrassed by some podunk leftist Boss Hog is just wrong. Time for the rest of America to get wome and realize what is going on. Leftists are allowed to riot, loot and burn property but soldiers simply carrying firearms are accosted by police? Is that the America you want to live in?
It’s been my experience that the police like to travel the easier road in the performance of their duties. On paper this looks like a significant accomplishment when in reality we know it’s not.
Dealing with the Black Lives Matter group well now that would of been a different matter. More than likely much more productive in the adherence to law they are sworn to uphold.
Sad to say that’s how they roll, I’ve experienced it personally.
I am just surprised to see he was in possession of a Glock 18 (style)? Since the article said that he had “ a Glock style AUTOMATIC handgun”. I wonder if he had his Federal Tax Stamp on his person at the time of arrest? You know since “AUTOMATIC” firearms require a Tax Stamp and and 1 year back ground vetting(WAIT) to acquire and possess such regulated weapons? Maybe that is the reason they have decided to incarcerate without bail. 😉
Lets see here, you got no rules or regulations for rioters/terrorists who are known to have killed property owners, but you have strict enforcement for defenders. Release that kid immediately!!!! and turn in your badge
DAMN RIGHT !
Technically a semi auto Glock like a Glock 19 or 17 could be called “automatic pistol.” It loads automatically, maybe like an older saying. Austin Powers had one. I know lib tards wanna call everything full auto.
Ps. Seems shady. Guy can’t arm himself? What were circumstances? Shits getting crazy, I’m armed everywhere I go now. Can’t renew my ccw right now but cmon? It does make me nervous though if I get stopped. I just wanna stay safe.
Speaking of Glocks, look up the hero of Seattle protest that was shot in the arm saving hundreds, he has now collected over 200k on go fund me
Poorly written; what other military-service has “soldiers” besides the Army?
So the government has trained this man in firearms. He can carry it in the Middle East protecting American lives. But he can’t carry in his own country to protect his own life. Ok. Fuck Troy
Exactly we need THEIR permission , I’ll be DAMNED.
“Held without bail”? That’s not right, especially if the others were released.