Felon Found with Gun and Drugs after Seat Belt Stop

LaGrange Police have arrested a man on multiple felony charges after he was found to be in possession of a gun and bags of marijuana during a simple traffic stop.

Wednesday afternoon about 12:30 p.m., officers with the LaGrange Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a Honda CR-V in the area of Fendig Street near Deming Street for a Seatbelt Violation.

Officers made contact with the driver, Rafeal Jermaine Chambers, who stated that he did not have his driver’s license on his person. While speaking with Chambers, officers observed what appeared to be illegal narcotics sticking out from a compartment under the radio.

Chambers was later determined to be on felony probation, so he was removed from the vehicle. He then briefly attempted to flee on foot up Fendig Street, but was quickly taken into custody.

Police then searched the vehicle with consent and officers confirmed that the item under the radio was a small plastic bag containing an amount of suspected marijuana. A second bag containing smoked marijuana cigarettes was also found in a compartment under the front passenger seat.

Police also located a silver .32 caliber revolver lying on the floorboard between the driver seat and the passenger seat in plain view.

Chambers later acknowledged having the marijuana, but denied knowing that the gun was in the vehicle, despite it being found just to the right of where his leg would have been while driving.

As a result, Chambers, age 36, was arrested and transported to the Troup County Sheriff’s Office where he was booked into the jail charged with Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, Possession of Marijuana – Less than an Ounce, Obstruction of Officers, Failure to Wear a Seat Belt, and Probation Violation.

Chambers is currently being held at the Troup County Jail where he was denied bond.

The author of this article can be reached via email at [email protected] net.

Tommy Murphy Staff Writer