Man arrested on weapons charge in connection with December Albany Police chase

A man is facing multiple charges after police said he threw a bag with a gun out of his window during a police chase last December.

Jamarl M. Townsend, 31, was stopped on Wednesday just before 7 p.m. in the area of Clinton Avenue and Lexington Avenue for a traffic infraction.

Townsend had an outstanding warrant in connection with an incident on Dec. 5. While sheriff’s deputies attempted to pull over Townsend, he allegedly threw a cross body bag out of the driver’s side window, the Albany County Sheriff’s Office said.

That caused the sheriff’s patrol vehicle to strike the rear of Townsend’s vehicle.

The bag had a semiautomatic handgun, which he was not allowed to own because he is a convicted felon, according to investigators.

Townsend is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, tampering with physical evidence, unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, obstructing governmental administration, criminal mischief and traffic violations.

Townsend was scheduled to appear in Albany City Criminal Court on Thursday.