Jayvon T. Brown, 24, of Reynoldsburg, was charged Sunday with improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle after a 6:35 p.m. traffic stop for an improper lane change.
An officer of the Bellefontaine Police Department on patrol observed Brown drive a car diagonally from the left hand turn lane on Sandusky Avenue at Detroit Street into the westbound lane. A traffic stop was initiated.
Brown acknowledged he had a loaded pistol under the driver’s seat for protection. He was removed from the car along with two passengers.
A 9mm handgun with a loaded magazine was recovered from under the seat. There was no round in the chamber, officers report.
A glass jar with marijuana was found inside a book bag located in the rear seat.
McKayla Collier, 20, of Reynoldsburg, said it was hers and she was charged with possession of marijuana.
Brown was lodged in the Logan County Jail while Collier and her 15-year-old brother were released to their mother.
Motorists face OVI charges
Skyelar N. Long, 18, of 11900 Duff Road, Apt. 14, Lakeview, was charged Friday with operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs after an 11:10 p.m. traffic stop on Garfield Avenue.
He also was issued citations for marked lanes and safety belt violations.
He was operating a westbound sport utility vehicle that drifted over the double-yellow center several times before a traffic stop was initiated. Upon contact, the officer detected an odor of marijuana and noted marijuana on Long’s shirt.
Field sobriety tests indicated he was under the influence of marijuana.
Long was unable to provide a urine sample and reportedly passed out on a bench at the police department while the officer completed paperwork.
• Kiara D. Porter, 21, of 436 Walker St., was charged Saturday with OVI and issued citations for an improper turn, driving on a sidewalk and a marked lanes violation.
A 2:10 a.m., an officer observed a sport utility vehicle over a sidewalk and curb as it exited Speedway, 329 S. Main St., to travel northbound to Auburn Avenue. Porter came to a stop at the light with the SUV straddling the solid white lane marker.
She then turned eastbound and continued northbound on Madriver Street. The officer followed and spotted the SUV off the roadway and a sidewalk. Porter reversed the SUV and nearly hit a tree before continuing northbound to westbound Chillicothe Avenue. After turning onto Chillicothe, she drove in the eastbound lane and a traffic stop was initiated.
Upon contact, the officer detected an odor of alcohol. Porter denied consuming alcohol and claimed the odor of alcohol was from her working as a bartender. However, her eyes were bloodshot and glossy and her face was flush red, the officer noted, and the odor of alcohol was stronger as she spoke.
Field sobriety tests indicated she was under the influence of alcohol. She refused to provide a breathalyzer sample.
She reportedly walked into a wall twice and into a doorway when released to a sober driver.
• Jason L. Herring, 39, of 355 Pimtown Road, West Liberty, was charged with OVI and improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle after a 2:55 a.m. traffic stop Saturday.
He also was issued citations for failure to control and operating an unsafe vehicle.
Officers were dispatched to the 800 block of south Detroit Street after Herring crashed a car into a utility pole. The pole was knocked across the street and Herring was reportedly trying to drive off.
He was found sitting in the car. Officer noted his speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot. Personnel from the Bellefontaine Fire and EMS Department were on scene and checked Herring for injuries. They found he was fine.
Herring informed officers there was a handgun in the rear seat pocket of the passenger seat. It was recovered with an empty chamber and a loaded magazine and within reach of the driver’s seat, officers report.
Herring also admitted his car’s tires were bald which contributed to the crash on wet roads.
The motorist was taken to a city garage for field sobriety tests which indicated he was under the influence.
He refused to provide a breathalyzer sample.
Officers lodged him in jail on the firearms charge.