Saratoga County Traffic Stop Leads to Unsettling Grenade Discovery

Not an Ordinary Traffic Stop

A routine traffic stop in Saratoga County turned into something far more serious Tuesday afternoon when deputies say they discovered two hand grenades inside a vehicle.

According to the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office, deputies stopped a vehicle around 12 noon at the Stewart's Shop at the intersection of Route 9P and County Route 76 in Stillwater for an improper turn signal and tinted tail lamps.

Sheriff's K9 Gets to Work

Photo: Google Maps

During the stop, a Sheriff's K-9 alerted deputies to the possible presence of narcotics. Investigators say the driver consented to a search of the vehicle, where deputies allegedly found two hand grenades.
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Out of an abundance of caution, Stewart's was evacuated while the New York State Police Bomb Disposal Unit responded and safely took possession of the devices.

The driver, 40-year-old Evan D. Giroux of Schaghticoke, was arrested and charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, both Class D felonies. He was also ticketed for the traffic violations that led to the stop.

Evan Giroud of Schaghticoke was arrested on Tuesday. Photo: Saratoga County Sheriff's Office

Who's Driving Around with Grenades?

It's not every day a routine traffic stop ends with the bomb squad responding to a Stewart's parking lot, leaving many to wonder the same thing: who's driving around Saratoga County with actual hand grenades?

The investigation remains ongoing. As with all criminal charges, the allegations are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

If you have additional information or corrections regarding this story, you can email brian@wgna.com.