City man faces drug, gun charges after traffic stop

YOUNGSTOWN — Reports said police found a 9mm handgun early Sunday morning after pulling a car over at Overland and Kenmore avenues for an improper turn.

The driver of the car, Hassan Merriweather, 32, of Parmalee Avenue, is in the Mahoning County jail on charges of driving under suspension, possession of drug paraphernalia, improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

He is expected to be arraigned in municipal court later today.

Officers pulled the car over about 1:30 a.m. and reports said Merriweather’s hands were shaking and the inside of the car smelled like burnt marijuana. The gun was on the seat next to Merriweather when he spoke to the officers, reports said.

Reports said officers also found a marijuana pipe and three .12-gauge shotgun shells inside the car.

Merriweather has a conviction for complicity to commit robbery which prohibits him from having a gun, reports said.