Police detain man’s passenger on warrant

Published 10:54 am Monday, June 23, 2008

By Staff
Dowagiac Police Chief Tom Atkinson reports that his department arrested a male subject Friday, June 20, for a concealed weapon charge.
At approximately 4:10 p.m., Dowagiac police received a dispatch of a vehicle driving erratically and running vehicles off the road on M-51 North, heading into Dowagiac.
A Dowagiac officer spotted the vehicle on W. Prairie Ronde near Hamilton Street and made a traffic stop on the vehicle.
The vehicle pulled into the driveway of a residence at that intersection.
The officer made contact with the driver and noted signs of intoxication and began to investigate for a possible operating while intoxicated violation.
While attempting to administer sobriety tests to the driver, the driver was searched and officers located a loaded handgun in his back pocket.
The driver was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm while intoxicated and operating while intoxicated. The 43-year-old man from Chicago was lodged at Cass County Jail on these charges. Charges are pending from the Cass County Prosecutor's Office. Police withheld the suspect's name pending his arraignment in Cass County Fourth District Court, Cassopolis.
A passenger in the vehicle was found to have a valid warrant for his arrest from the Dowagiac Police Department. He was arrested on the warrant and lodged at the Cass County Jail as well.