UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) – The Utica Police GIVE Unit arrested four people on Thursday, June 1 after an incident during a traffic stop on Varick Street.

According to officers, a car carrying five people was stopped on Varick Street was stopped after police were conducting proactive enforcement. According to officers, they had prior knowledge that the driver – 26-year-old Gino Placanica of Utica – allegedly had his driving privileges suspended.

When officers approached the vehicle, they detained Placanica and began to interview the other passengers. During the interview, officers say they noticed a handgun in the passenger door pocket area.

Officers then began to detain all five passengers. While doing so, some passengers allegedly began to cause a disturbance, which allowed one to flee the scene. Police then arrested the other three passengers – 25-year-old Garlisha Bailey, 31-year-old Quantasia Hendricks, and 19-year-old Kaleysha Outten, all of Utica — and transported them and Placanica to the Utica Police Department.

 All four people arrested have been charged with second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon and criminal possession of a firearm, both felonies. All but Outten have been charged with an additional charge of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon from prior convictions.

Placanica has been further charged with third-degree Aggravated Unlicensed Operation and several other Vehicle and Traffic Law violations.

UPDATE (June 5, 2023): According to Utica Police, the person who fled on foot during the traffic stop has been found and arrested. Police arrested 29-year-old Tyriek Berry of Utica with the help of the New Hartford Police Department and transported him to the Utica Police Department. Berry is being charged with second- and third-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, both violent felonies, and Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a felony. Berry was also charged with a parole violation.