Have you ever been stopped by an officer for something “minor” and wondered why the officer may have seemed cautious or inquisitive? Officers know that there is no such thing as a “routine” traffic stop. Officers must be alert and investigative to identify criminal activity, even if it’s not plainly apparent. Here’s a recent example:
On Tuesday, March 23rd around 6:15pm, Bainbridge Public Safety Captain Josh Glover performed a routine traffic stop on a vehicle traveling on College Street. Officer Gaston Corson arrived for backup, and as the officers were speaking with the driver they could see several drug-related objects and a shotgun inside of the vehicle. Willie James Murphy, a convicted felon, was asked to step out of the vehicle so he could be placed in handcuffs. Murphy’s vehicle was searched and officers found a loaded and chambered 12-gauge shotgun, a loaded and chambered AR 15 rifle, crystal and powder Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Adderall pills, Ecstacy pills, Marijuana, Spice, a digital scale, and a glass smoking pipe.
Willie James Murphy, 42, who was uncooperative during his arrest, was charged with:
Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime
Possession of Cocaine
Possession of Ecstacy
Trafficking in Methamphetamine
Possession of Schedule I Drugs
Possession of Schedule II Drugs
Bainbridge Public Safety has taken two more firearms out of the hands of criminals in our city. Every round in each firearm we seize represents the potential for a life lost in the hands of those who have already shown a disregard for the law. Bainbridge Public Safety will continue to work diligently to keep our community safe and hold accountable those who would threaten its safety.
