Speed stop turns up drugs, gun, cops say

YOUNGSTOWN — A stop for speed turned up a gun, drugs and a bulletproof vest.

A 2002 Pontiac Grand Am going 76 mph in a 50 mph zone was “tagged” by Patrolmen Dave Wilson and Richard Baldwin on the Himrod Avenue expressway. The officers were out Sunday afternoon working traffic enforcement.

When the officers tried to pull the car over, it sped up north on Himrod and then stopped on North Lane Avenue. The driver and passenger were arrested and due in municipal court today for arraignment.

The driver, Charles C. Richardson, 22, of Alameda Avenue had no valid license, registration or proof of insurance, police said. A pat-down search of his pants turned up a plastic bag with suspected crack cocaine, a loaded .380-caliber semiautomatic pistol and a magazine with eight rounds, reports show.

In the car’s middle console, police said they found a bag of suspected marijuana. In the glove box, they found $211 and Tussionex (a narcotic cough syrup) and in the trunk, they found a bulletproof vest.

Richardson faces charges of driving under suspension, excessive speed, carrying a concealed weapon, drug abuse crack cocaine, drug abuse Tussionex and drug abuse marijuana.

The passenger, Carshra Bradley, 23, of Tyrell Street was charged with drug abuse marijuana.

Police said they found two round, purple, balloon-type balls in her pocket, which she said her children play with. Inside the balls, though, was marijuana, reports show.

Police requested that the charges pending against Richardson be prosecuted federally.