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No arrests in weapons study: More than half of illegal weapon arrests involve felonies |
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Monday, 28 September 2009 |
By KAREN CAMPBELL
Assistant Managing Editor
Illegal weapon arrests were released statewide last week, with Auglaize and Mercer counties, both handled by the Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, having none.
In the district, which also includes Logan, Union, Shelby, Darke, Miami, Champaign, Preble, Montgomery and Clark counties, there were 27 illegal weapon arrests. Most of those were along major routes near larger cities in Miami, Montgomery and Clark counties.
There were five illegal weapon arrests in Allen County, four of which were along Interstate 75, during the 20-month recording period from 2008 to present.
Lt. Scott Carrico, commander of the Wapakoneta Post, said the majority of illegal weapon arrests are made as the result of troopers stopping motorists for other offenses.
“They are found as the result of other types of searches, arrests or while inventorying vehicles,” Carrico told the Wapakoneta Daily News. “Sometimes it’s for violation of a concealed carry permit and they are not properly transporting them or notifying that they have them.”
The lieutenant said most illegal weapons found are firearms and concealed large knives.
Illegal weapons also may include bombs transported in vehicles, but those are not often found in this area, Carrico said.
He reminded the public that if they are carrying a weapon, even with a concealed carry permit, they are required to notify officers immediately.
“We have a lot with permits for concealed carry that don’t carry them with them,” Carrico said. “In a mostly rural area, pretty much everyone with a concealed carry permit is aware of the laws when it comes to carrying them.”
Across the state, Richland and Ross counties had the most illegal weapon arrests since 2008, according to statistics recently released by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Troopers made 24 illegal weapon arrests in each county during that time frame.
In total, there were 447 illegal weapon arrests between January 2008 and August 2009. Of those arrests, more than half, or 233, involved felonies, 173 involved impaired motorists, 120 involved drug arrests and 80 were motorists with suspended licenses.
Eighteen concealed weapon arrests were made in Scioto County and 17 each in Mahoning and Stark.
Counties in the patrol’s Jackson District in southeast Ohio accounted for 85 arrests, followed by the patrol’s Massillon District in northeast Ohio with 59 illegal weapon arrests.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 29 September 2009 )
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