Christopher R. McGee, 31, of Hattiesburg, Miss., was arrested Friday, Dec. 16, for felony counts of having weapons under disability; carrying concealed weapons; and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle.
He was a passenger in a sport utility vehicle that exited southbound from the Super 8 Motel, 1117 N. Main St., at 9:05 p.m. without headlights or taillights.
Officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department initiated a traffic stop at Reynolds Avenue but the driver, Ladarion K. Sutton, 20, of Monticello, Miss., continued slowly southbound to the area of Beech Avenue before stopping.
There were two book bags on the front seat passenger side floorboard where McGee was sitting. One contained a loaded 9 mm handgun and a bag of marijuana. More packages of marijuana were found inside the second book bag.
Both men said they had traveled to Michigan and purchased the marijuana.
McGee, who is a convicted felon currently under indictment for another felony, was lodged in the Logan County Jail. Sutton was issued a warning for the marijuana and released at the scene.
• Gene L. Schloss, 58, of Port Jefferson, was charged Saturday, Dec. 17, with felony counts of carrying concealed weapons and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle.
He was a passenger in a pickup truck that was stopped at 4:10 p.m. for hauling a trailer without brake lights or a license plate. The driver was his son, Rodney L. Schloss, 36, also of Port Jefferson. Both men said they had purchased the trailer that day in Columbus and were on their way home.
The father acknowledged possessing a handgun when an officer asked about weapons in the pickup.
A .45-caliber handgun was taken from him after he was instructed to exit the vehicle. A records check revealed the suspect was named in an active civil protection order in Shelby County and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
He was lodged in jail while his son was given a warning and released.
Driver lodged on parole violation
Trenton E. Mathews, 42, of 413 E. Sandusky Ave., was lodged in jail on a parole violation after a 12:30 a.m. traffic stop Saturday, Dec. 17.
He was charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and issued traffic citations for speeding; failure to obey traffic control devices; no operator’s license; failure to reinstate; expired registration; and having an open container of alcohol.
An officer on patrol observed an eastbound sport utility vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on Sandusky Avenue at Detroit Street. Radar tracked the SUV at 48 mph in a 25-mph zone.
At Main Street, Mathews stopped the SUV past the painted pavement stop bar and was in the crosswalk. The officer followed and initiated a stop as Mathews drove across Madriver Street.
The officer detected an odor of alcohol while talking with Mathews after he exited the driver’s side front door of the SUV.
He claimed he had not consumed alcohol and that he was not driving the vehicle. He refused to participate in sobriety testing and was arrested.
Two open 24-ounce cans of beer were located on the front passenger side floorboard.
Mathews, according to the arrest report, has a prior OVI conviction from 2012.
Man apologizes for clothing malfunction
Kelvin M. Smith, 33, of 437 N. Madriver St., was charged Monday, Dec. 19, with public indecency and issued a citation for no driver’s license after a 5:30 p.m. incident at CVS Pharmacy, 143 E. Sandusky Ave.
Officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department stopped him after he drove from the parking lot north on Madriver.
When questioned about exposing himself to others at the business, he apologized and said it was an unintentional result of wearing loose pants without an undergarment.
Driver cited in crash
Officers issued a traffic citation for failure to control to Luis Martinez Urdanet Noll, 48, of Bellefontaine, after a 9:05 p.m. crash Saturday, Dec. 17, at Sandusky Avenue and Hayes Street.
He was westbound in a car and attempted to stop for a red light. The car slid on the snowy roadway and hit a southbound pickup truck operated by Taylor D. Parmer, 31, of Bellefontaine.
Damage was heavy.