A 53-year-old Johnstown man was charged with a felony after a New Albany Police Department officer found him under the influence of alcohol and in possession of loaded firearms.
An officer stopped the man's vehicle at 2:51 a.m. April 1 at Beech Road and state Route 161. He was arrested and charged with OVI, marijuana possession, improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle while under the influence and illegal use or possession of marijuana drug paraphernalia.
Although the man had a license to carry a concealed handgun -- which allows permit holders to possess loaded or concealed handguns in a vehicle under Ohio law -- he was charged because he was under the influence of alcohol while in possession of multiple firearms, some of which were loaded, said Sgt. Kris Daniels.
No one is allowed to transport a loaded handgun in a motor vehicle if he or she "is under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them," according to section 2923.16 of the Ohio Revised Code.
In other New Albany police incident reports:
* A 25-year-old Columbus man was arrested for OVI after police responded at 7:33 p.m. April 1 to a report of a single-vehicle crash at state Route 161 and Johnstown Road (U.S. Route 62).
* A 19-year-old Mount Sterling man was cited for displaying an identification or license of another and drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop at 3:51 p.m. April 1 at state Route 161 and U.S. Route 62. Police found a metal marijuana pipe and expired West Virginia driver's license that the man admitted was fake.
* Two Gahanna boys, ages 17 and 16, were cited for drug abuse and controlled-substance possession or use after a traffic stop at 11:01 p.m. March 26 at Johnstown and James River roads.