Amid a bustling protest, which drew a heavy police presence for crowd control on the 7000 block of Edgemere, a 47-year-old man was apprehended after concerns were voiced about a visible firearm in his vehicle. The City of El Paso reports that Michael Edward Abeyta was spotted driving his 2018 Kia Forte alongside the demonstration, sporting an unholstered handgun on his dashboard, prompting a participant to alert officers.
Officers quickly located and detained Abeyta, confirming the unlawfully displayed weapon and thereby charging him with Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon, a Class A Misdemeanor, the police's disclosure of the incident offered further details showing that in addition to the weapon charge, Abeyta had several other brushes with the law, including outstanding traffic warrants one from El Paso County and six from the City of El Paso.
The details of the arrest show a startling disregard for the legal conduct of carrying firearms even amongst public assemblies, highlighting ongoing concerns about public safety in such environments. Abeyta was subsequently booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility, facing a bond totaling $4,416.56, reflecting both the weapons charge and his pending traffic violations.
