Westlake police say a late-night traffic stop turned into a child-endangerment and weapons case when officers pulled over a 33-year-old Lorain man on April 25 and reportedly found a loaded handgun and drugs in his car while two young boys sat in the back seat. The stop happened around 9:30 p.m., and officers say the weapon, a handgun with an extended magazine, was sitting unsecured beneath the driver’s seat. The children, ages seven and eight, were turned over to a family member at the scene.
Traffic stop, what police say
According to Westlake officers, the driver was first stopped for speeding in the Lear Nagle area. Police say they noticed signs of drug use during the stop, even as the man told them one of the boys has autism and needed a bathroom. Officers noted he had already passed several places to stop before they pulled him over.
After some questioning, police say the man handed over a bag of marijuana, and officers then found the loaded handgun under the driver’s seat. The man’s wife came to the scene and took custody of the children, according to police. As reported by Cleveland19, the driver is charged with carrying a concealed weapon and endangering children.
What the charges mean
Under Ohio law, carrying a concealed weapon is defined in ORC 2923.12, and endangering children is outlined in ORC 2919.22. Penalties can depend heavily on the details, such as whether the gun was loaded or easily accessible to minors, and can range from misdemeanor charges to felony counts that bring potential prison time and fines.
Police warn about unsecured guns
Westlake police emphasized just how dangerous an unsecured firearm can be when children are in the car, saying the seven- and eight-year-old boys “could have easily reached the gun.” As reported by Cleveland19, officers released a photo of the recovered handgun to drive home that point and said the children were turned over to a family member at the scene.
