A Smethport man is in McKean County Jail after a traffic stop where police found a loaded gun and him driving under the influence of a controlled substance.
Christopher L. Crum, 29, of 12057 Route 46, Apt. 1, Smethport, was arraigned before District Judge William Todd on charges of firearms not to be carried without a license, a third-degree felony; DUI-controlled substance, a misdemeanor; driving while operating privileges suspended or revoked, a summary charge.
According to the criminal complaint, at 12:03 p.m. Tuesday, a Smethport police officer was at the intersection of East Water Street and East Street, when he spotted Crum driving. The officer knew Crum’s driver’s license was suspended.
The officer conducted a traffic stop. As he approached the vehicle, he noticed Crum “was executing furtive movements with his hands in the area of the drivers door,” the complaint stated.
The officer asked for Crum’s driver’s information, and Crum told him he does not have his license, according to court records. The officer then told Crum he pulled him over for driving while suspended.
The officer told Crum that his “furtive movements” were making him nervous and that he needed to keep his hands on the wheel while the officer opened the door and looked for weapons. Crum told the officer he had a handgun under the driver’s seat, and, when asked, he admitted that he did not have a conceal carry license, the complaint stated.
The officer had Crum get out of the vehicle while he took possession of Crum’s handgun and cleared it.
While Crum had told the officer the gun was not loaded, the officer found that the gun was loaded when he checked, the complaint indicated.
At that point, the officer asked for state police to assist, and he conducted a search of the vehicle once two troopers arrived on scene.
Crum was taken to Bradford Regional Medical Center for a blood draw because the officer suspected he was under the influence of a controlled substance, too, court records indicated.
Crum is in McKean County in lieu of $25,000 bail, and a preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 24.
