Domestic Dispute Leads to Weapon Arrest in Shawangunk

State police in Ulster County have arrested a Wallkill man on multiple weapons charges following a reported domestic dispute in the town of Shawangunk.

According to the New York State Police, investigators with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Highland arrested Fred D. Earl, 74, on May 7.

Police said the investigation began around 5:12 p.m. after troopers from the Highland barracks received a 911 report of a domestic dispute involving Earl and a 29-year-old woman. Authorities issued a be-on-the-lookout alert for Earl’s 2024 Ford F-150 and later stopped the vehicle at the intersection of Bon Ventura Avenue and Second Street in Shawangunk.

During the investigation, the woman asked to return to Earl’s residence to retrieve her belongings, police said. Troopers reportedly observed an unsecured rifle in plain view inside the home.

Investigators determined Earl is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms in New York state. Troopers obtained a search warrant and said they recovered several weapons and related items from the residence, including rifles, a shotgun, an assault weapon, three 30-round magazines and a black slapjack.

Among the firearms police said were recovered were a Remington 597 .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle, a Mossberg 20-gauge shotgun, a Henry Repeating Arms .45-70 caliber rifle and a DPMS Panther Arms .223/5.56 Model A-15 assault weapon.

Earl was charged with multiple felony and misdemeanor offenses, including three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon with a previous conviction, criminal possession of an assault weapon, criminal possession of a firearm and failure to safely store firearms in the first degree.

Police said Earl was processed at State Police Highland and arraigned in Ulster County Jail Central Arraignment Part. He was released on his own recognizance.

Earl is scheduled to return to Shawangunk Town Court on May 18 at 6 p.m.