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MAN THROWS GUN AFTER CONFRONTATION WITH DETECTIVES

By Ray King/ OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Saturday, November 7, 2009 12:33 AM CST

A man whose car was stopped for traffic violations Thursday reportedly threw a handgun under the vehicle when confronted by detectives.

Investigators also reportedly found nine individually wrapped bags containing marijuana in the car, Deputy Prosecutor Cymber Gieringer said during a court hearing Friday for Clay Johnson, 19, a student at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, who was driving the car and was arrested.

Reading from an affidavit from Tri-County Drug Task Force Sgt. Yohance Brunson, Gieringer said Brunson and police vice and narcotics Lt. Denise Richardson were traveling north on University Drive near Saracen Street, and had slowed down because of a multiple-vehicle accident when a car turned west, then crossed three lanes, almost hitting another car.

Gieringer said Brunson and Richardson stopped the car at Saracen Street and L.A. “Prexy” Davis Drive, and while Richardson approached the driver’s side, Brunson went to the passenger side and saw a jacket in the back seat with a plastic bag containing what appeared to be marijuana hanging out of it.

Brunson reported that Johnson claimed the jacket belonged to a friend, and when Johnson was taken to the rear of the car, “struck the trunk several times with his fist.”

Gieringer said Brunson found $740 cash in Johnson’s pocket, and during a patdown for officer safety, “felt the handle of a gun,” which Johnson pulled out and threw under the car.

She said Brunson retrieved the gun, a .9-millimeter Smith and Wesson, and checked to see if the gun had been reported stolen, which it had not. He also checked the jacket and found two plastic bags containing 6.6 grams of marijuana.

Brunson reported that Johnson denied any knowledge of the marijuana and claimed he had thrown the gun under the car “because it was not registered.”

Circuit Judge Rob Wyatt Jr. ruled prosecutors had probable cause to charge Johnson, who Gieringer said had no prior convictions, with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms.

Johnson told the judge he would hire his own attorney.

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