Report of gun leads to man’s arrest

SAUGERTIES, N.Y. >> Reports of a gun-wielding man, who was initially thought to be at Lox of Bagels on U.S. Route 9W, turned out to have been someone displaying a pellet gun that looked like a semi-automatic handgun, police said Monday.

The man, Thomas N. Tommola, 31, of Underwood Street, Saugerties, was arrested by Saugerties police on Sunday, Feb. 12, and charged with disorderly conduct, a violation.

At about 11:30 a.m., Saugerties police responded to a 911 call reporting a man with a gun at Lox of Bagels at 3103 Route 9W, in the town. While officers were responding, 911 advised them that the man, who was later identified as Tommola, had left the store and was headed toward Arthur Lane.

A lieutenant allegedly saw Tommola as he was entering a vehicle parked at Sue’s Restaurant, 3101 Route 9W. The officer confronted and then arrested Tommola, police said.

An investigation found that Tommola was in possession of a pellet gun. Police said a witness saw Tommola exit the vehicle parked at Sue’s Restaurant holding what the witness believed to be a handgun and walk across Arthur Lane toward the Lox of Bagels parking lot “while holding the gun up in his hand.”

Once in the parking lot, Tommola was seen putting the gun under his clothing and, after making his purchase, Tommola exited the store and headed back to his vehicle, where he was detained by police.

Tommola was released with a ticket for Saugerties Town Court.

Saugerties police said the initial 911 call prompted a response from state police and Ulster County Sheriff’s Office who assisted in the investigation.