Man has suspended CCW permit after drug arrest

By Joe Gorman

jgorman@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

A West Indianola Avenue man who had a valid concealed-carry permit earlier this month was arrested on a firearm charge early Sunday during his second arrest within 10 days.

William Chatman, 22, was arraigned in municipal court Monday before Magistrate Anthony Sertick on a felony charge of improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle and a misdemeanor possession of marijuana charge. Sertick set bond at $10,000.

Reports said Chatman was driving a car about 12:25 a.m. Sunday on Sheridan Road near Chattanooga Avenue on the South Side when he was clocked by a trooper from the Canfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol going 15 miles per hour over the speed limit and was pulled over.

Reports said the first thing Chatman told the trooper was that he had a CCW permit and his weapon was in the glove compartment, which is required by law. Reports said the trooper could smell a strong odor of marijuana and checked the status of the permit in his cruiser.

Reports said the records check showed the permit was suspended. Inside the car, troopers found a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol and 22 rounds of 9 mm ammunition in the center console. Because of the marijuana odor, the car was searched, and troopers found a bag of suspected marijuana on the floor on the driver’s side. Chatman was booked into the Mahoning County jail.

On Nov. 20, Chatman was pulled over about 11:10 p.m. after two officers from the vice squad on patrol spotted him driving the same car without working taillights. Reports said he also told officers the first time he spoke to them he had a CCW permit and his weapon was in the center console. Police found a loaded .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol, reports said.

Officers also detected a strong odor of marijuana during that stop and found a bag of suspected marijuana, seven pills and $307 in cash.

Chatman was cited on a misdemeanor drug-possession charge, and his weapon was taken. Officers did not, however, charge him with a firearms offense. Reports said he was told the weapon was being taken for safekeeping because of the drugs found on him, and he would be able to get it back from the police station.

Assistant City Prosecutor Jeffrey Moliterno told Sertick it was his understanding Chatman’s permit was suspended because of the Nov. 20 stop.