Taxi passenger with machine gun

NEWBURGH, NY (WABC) -- During a routine traffic stop, three Newburgh police officers got more than what they had bargained for. Sgt. Frank Labrada along with officers Joseph Palermo and Patrick Kelly made the call to pull over a taxi after they noticed what they considered a nervous passenger in the backseat.

The officers, expecting to crack down on a possible illegal fare, noticed a bulge underneath the man's jacket.

The bulge turned out to be a loaded World War II era Sten Mark II sub machine gun with a 30 round magazine, police said.

Elijah Coston, 21, of Newburgh was arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second and Third Degree.

Coston is being held in Newburgh pending arraignment.

Police also ticketed the cab driver for failure to obtain a taxi permit.

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