LOADED HANDGUN LOCATED DURING TRAFFIC STOP

 LOADED HANDGUN LOCATED DURING TRAFFIC STOP

Theaddis I. Johnson, 22, of Milford, Del. and Richard R. Vantine, 22, of Georgetown, Del. were arrested Saturday (03/30/19) afternoon when officers located a loaded 9mm handgun in their vehicle during a traffic stop.

At around 4:00pm, a Rehoboth Beach Police officer observed a white Chevrolet Impala with multiple cracks to its windshield driving westbound on Rehoboth Avenue approaching the traffic circle. The officer caught up to the vehicle at which time the vehicle aggressively turned off the roadway into a private driveway where the officer conducted a traffic stop.

Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer could smell a strong odor of fresh marijuana coming from inside. The officer identified Johnson as the driver and Vantine as the passenger of the vehicle. Vantine initially provide the officer with a fictitious name, but his true identity was obtained later.
Officers removed both occupants from the vehicle and conducted a search. Officers located in excess of three ounces of suspected marijuana throughout the vehicle and on the occupants. The marijuana was packaged in multiple bags and containers. In addition, inside the vehicle, officers located a backpack containing a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun and additional ammunition for the gun.

When the officers located the gun, Vantine fled the stop on foot and was able to escape custody. Additional units from the Dewey Beach Police Department and the Delaware State Police responded to the scene to assist in searching for Vantine. Responding units were able to locate Vantine just after 4:30pm and take him into custody without incident or injury.

Johnson was arrested and charged with 1 felony count of carrying a concealed deadly weapon and 1 misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana other than personal use with an aggravating factor. Johnson was released on $5500.00 unsecured bail.

Vantine was arrested and charged with 1 felony count of carrying a concealed deadly weapon and the following misdemeanor charges; 1 count of possession of marijuana other than personal use with an aggravating factor, 1 count of resisting arrest, and 1 count of criminal impersonation. Vantine was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in lieu of $6,500.00 secured bail.