A six-month-long weapons investigation by Vestal Police resulted in three arrests and close to 20 seized firearms. Three search warrants were served on Rock and Vestal roads in Vestal, leading to a dozen long guns, six handguns, and about a dozen high-capacity ammunition magazines being seized. Some of the weapons were illegal and others had features that did not comply with the New York SAFE Act. Now 30-year-old Christopher Barker and 20-year-old William Barker are being charged with felony counts of criminal possession of a weapon. Separately, last week police also charged 51-year-old Christopher Hemmer of Vestal Road with a felony count of criminal possession of stolen property as part of the investigation. In addition to the firearms, William Barker is accused of possessing a homemade explosive and a pair of metal knuckles. Hemmer allegedly possessed over $2,000 worth of stolen items in an unrelated theft case that is still under investigation. The weapons investigation is continuing.
