Loaded Firearm Recovered During Long Island Expressway Traffic Stop

New York State Police say a routine traffic stop on the Long Island Expressway led to the recovery of a loaded handgun, a high-capacity magazine, and a dangerous knife.

According to State Police, the stop happened on Friday, May 29, 2026, at about 3:12 p.m. in the Village of Old Westbury on Long Island. Members of the New York State Police Community Stabilization Unit, along with narcotic K9 Kane, stopped a Dodge Ram pickup truck for multiple traffic infractions.

Police identified the driver as Orlando Silva Rodriguez, 42, of Phoenix, Arizona. During the stop, State Police say investigators recovered a Springfield XDM 9mm pistol with a magazine containing 19 rounds of 9mm ammunition. A dangerous knife was also reportedly found under the driver’s seat.

Silva Rodriguez was arrested and charged with:

Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony
Criminal Possession of a Weapon — Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device, a class D felony
Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a class E felony
Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree — Dangerous Knife, a class A misdemeanor

State Police said Silva Rodriguez was arraigned on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. at Nassau County District Court. The State Police release listed the arraignment location as “Nassau Country District Court,” which appears to be a typographical error.

The case highlights how a traffic stop for vehicle violations can quickly become a more serious public safety matter when police discover loaded weapons inside a vehicle. Authorities did not report any injuries connected to the stop.

State Police Troop L handled the release.