September 4, 2009

Murder suspect nabbed

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A man wanted for murder in Philadelphia was found when Whitehall police officer Daniel Price made a routine traffic stop early Tuesday.

Jamaal D. Simmons, 26, was the passenger in the car that was stopped and was found to be wanted by police in the Philadelphia, Pa., area in connection with a murder investigation.

Price pulled over a car traveling east on Poultney Street/U.S. Route 4 in Whitehall at around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1, based on the vehicle doing 44 mph in a 30-mph zone.

Price then asked for identification from both the driver and the passenger.

“The license of the driver was run and it came back that he was wanted in Pennsylvania on a parole violation,” said Whitehall Police Chief Matthew Dickson about driver Kaream S. Bundy, 32, of Philadelphia. While Bundy was the driver, he did not have a driver’s license.

Price then ran Simmons’ ID.

“The passenger also gave us identification at the time and Dan ran that as well,” said Dickinson. “It then came back that he was wanted for murder.”

Dickinson said that both men were cooperative with Price, and that there were no problems after Price made his discoveries.

“They were both taken into custody without incident,” said Dickinson. “There were two sheriff’s deputies that were advised of the situation at the time, and they came up and assisted.”

Along with deputies James Banish and David Buxton, Price also received a helping hand from off-duty Whitehall officer Jason Vandenburgh, who stopped to offer assistance on his way home from another, non-police related job.

“It makes things a lot easier when you have help around,” said Dickinson. “Dan did a great job, and everything went smoothly.”

Both Simmons and Bundy were arraigned before Whitehall Village Justice Julie Scott and charged with being fugitives from justice. The two were then transferred to the Washington County Jail in Fort Edward where they will await extradition hearings.

“There will most likely be an extradition hearing soon and then back to Philly they go,” said Dickinson.