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September 15, 2008

Westminster student facing gun, drug charges

A Westminster College student was arrested on gun and drug charges.

Eric Desmond Brown, 22, of 174 S. Forest St., Youngstown, was arrested at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday by New Wilmington police. He was arraigned before District Judge Scott McGrath on charges of carrying firearms without a license, possession of a controlled substance and three counts of possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia.

He was released on his own recognizance. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in Lawrence County Central Court.

Police said college officials had received a call notifying them Brown allegedly possessed illegal drugs and carried a handgun.

Officers located Brown�s 1992 Buick LeSabre parked on South Mercer Street in New Wilmington. They contacted the New Castle Police Department requesting assistance of Achill, the department�s drug-sniffing dog. When the dog and his handler, Sgt. John Colella, arrived, police said, the animal sniffed the exterior of the car and indicated a positive response to drugs.

Police said when Brown returned to the vehicle, he was cooperative and allowed them to search the car. Police found an unloaded .380-caliber handgun under the front seat and a loaded magazine for the weapon in the glove box, which also contained some marijuana.

Police said they determined the gun had been legally purchased at an Ohio gun shop, but Brown did not have a license to carry the weapon in Ohio or Pennsylvania.

Police, assisted by the college�s department of public safety, said there is no evidence to indicate that either the drugs or the weapon were in Brown�s possession while he was on the Westminster campus.

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