UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) – Utica Police arrested three people on the evening of Monday, August 21 on weapons and drug charges after a vehicle stop on John Street.

At approximately 6:30 PM on Monday, August 21, officers say they stopped a vehicle at the intersection of John and Catherine Streets in the city. Police say that they attempted a stop of the same vehicle on Oriskany Street near Broad Street, but the vehicle failed to comply with police until it reached John Street.

Once the vehicle was pulled over, officers learned that the vehicle contained stolen property that had been reported earlier in the day. The driver – 49-year-old Antonio Rios of Herkimer — was called out of the vehicle and subsequently detained. As the front seat passenger was exiting the vehicle, officers noticed him allegedly dropping a clear glass tube on the ground. Officers had knowledge that items like that are allegedly used to smoke narcotics, which prompted them to detain the passenger as well. The passenger in the back seat – 40-year-old Candice Sparrow of Utica — was also removed from the vehicle and detained without incident.

Upon further investigation, officers learned that one of the passengers – 48-year-old Michael Rios of Utica – had five outstanding warrants from Utica Police.

When it was determined that the vehicle had to be towed from the scene, officers then began to conduct an inventory of the vehicle. During their inventory, police located a set of brass knuckles on the driver’s side. Further investigation also revealed a black bag in the rear containing bags of suspected narcotics and smoking devices, as well as a shoebox containing a loaded .38 caliber revolver and ammunition on the passenger side.

All three suspects were subsequently transported to the Utica Police Department for processing. All three suspects were charged with seventh-degree Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, a misdemeanor; Michael Rios and Sparrow were charged with two counts, while Antonio Rios was charged with one count.  Rios and Sparrow were charged with fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, a misdemeanor. Antonio Rios was also charged with various traffic violations.

Michael Rios was also charged with three counts of third-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon and one count of second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, all violent felonies. He was also charged with Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a felony, as well as for the outstanding warrants.