FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – The FWPD says that a man is facing several charges after a traffic stop early Tuesday morning close to downtown.
Fort Wayne Police Department officials say an officer was on duty and noticed a car weaving through traffic in the 2400 block of S. Clinton Street around 4:15 a.m. The officer reported the vehicle driving under the speed limit. The officer initiated a traffic stop and approached his vehicle.
That is when the officer saw that the man was “drinking from a liquor bottle”. The officer also spotted a handgun, according to the FWPD.
According to a release, the man continued to drink before the officer stopped him – noting that there was a weapon nearby. When the officer asked him to get out of the car he refused and additional assistance was called in.
Once backup arrived the driver was taken out of the car “by force due to his physical resistance.”
Police eventually found three handguns, one of which was reported stolen, according to FWPD. The release also said that the driver, identified as Rashad A. Jackson-Tatum, is a convicted felon meaning he was prohibited from possessing firearms.
The FWPD released the following:
On Tuesday, May 30th, 2023, around 4:15 am, an officer with the Fort Wayne Police Department was on active patrol on the 2400 block of S. Clinton Street. The officer saw a vehicle weaving lane to lane and then going notably under the speed limit. As a result, the officer initiated a traffic stop. Upon contact with the driver, the officer saw that the driver was drinking from a liquor bottle. Also, the officer saw a handgun by the driver. The driver wanted to continue drinking, but the officer stopped him because he was possibly intoxicated and because a handgun was nearby. The driver was asked to exit the vehicle, but he refused. Consequently, the officer aired for an emergency assistance. Upon the arrival of other officers, the driver was taken out by force due to his physical resistance. Officers eventually found three handguns, one of which was reported as stolen. Additionally, the driver was a convicted felon, and thus prohibited from possessing firearms.
Arrested: Rashad A. Jackson-Tatum
Preliminary Charges: Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun-prior felony conviction w/in last 15 years, Theft of a Firearm, Resisting Law Enforcement: knowingly/intentionally forcibly resist/obstruct, and Driving while being Unlicensed.
The incident remains under investigation by the Fort Wayne Police Department and the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office.