Cardinal Points

Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Facebook image A photo taken from Derek Stroh's Facebook page. [Click to enlarge]

Derek Stroh wearing a Halloween costume that caused concern on campus in fall 2007. [Click to enlarge]

LAKE GEORGE -- A Plattsburgh State junior was arrested on his way back to school last month with a cache of guns, knives, ammunition and machetes in his car, State Police said Friday. He was apparently wearing an all-black military fatigues when he was stopped by police.

Derek Stroh, 20, from the Syracuse area, was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor, because his car allegedly contained a sawed-off shotgun, troopers said.

Stroh, who had a run-in with police over a Halloween costume last semester, was scheduled to reappear in court Thursday. Court offices were closed late Friday afternoon and police had no details regarding the outcome of the proceedings.

Stroh, who is listed on the campus directory as a Macomb Hall resident, was pulled over by Trooper Eric Swan on January 26 for driving 80 mph in a 65 mph zone on the Northway. Police said his license was suspended so officers had his car towed.

When troopers searched the vehicle they allegedly found a Russian M44 7.27 caliber rifle, an air pistol, two black machetes, several bottles of liquor and a Remington 410 caliber shotgun, which was shortened to 11 ½ inches. Under state law a shotgun barrel can't be less than 19 inches in length.

Police said Friday that no weapons were loaded, but the Glens Fall Post-Star reported earlier this week that weapons were loaded.

Troopers said Stroh told them he was on his way back to PSUC where he is a first year student. The weapons, he told police, were going to be stored by the school.

The case is under review by the school, said Brendan Kinney, a spokesperson.

"While this incident took place off campus, it's important to remember that dangerous weapons of any kind, including, guns, swords and knives, are not allowed on campus or in student residence halls," Kinney said in a prepared statement.

"Campus safety is a top priority of the college and we are extremely sensitive to any situation that may represent a threat to the safety of our community."

The University Police were informed of the incident by troopers, State Police said. UP told the troopers about an incident last semester where Stroh was trying out an all-black Halloween costume. He had appeared in Cardinal Points' What's the Buzz after that incident, describing it as the craziest stunt he had ever seen.

"I wore this outfit a week ago to test it out and someone called UP on me," he told the paper at the time.

On his Facebook account, Stroh lists "swords and guns" among his interests.

"I practice with both a lot over the summer," he writes.

Two of his favorite quotes listed are: "Killing for peace is like f-----g for chastity" and "Cannibalism is not inherently wrong."

Stroh has two photos on his Facebook account, one included shows him and two friends wearing all-black combat outfits.

No one answered the phone at Stroh's dorm room Friday evening.

-Ryan Hayner contributed to this report.

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