Photo: pennlive.com
You know what they say, sometimes the most amazing things happen when you least expect them. This also applies here, but with the caveat that this find is only amazing because it probably prevented a mass tragedy.
During what should have been a routine traffic stop, police in Holtwood, Pennsylvania discovered 2 live grenades, a pistol and methamphetamine inside the vehicle they pulled over, PennLive reports. At the wheel was 54-year-old Melvin Hartman and police recovered even more live grenades at his home in a search following the initial arrest.
And it was all possible because Hartman was driving a car without a license plate, which just goes to show that, if you want to be a criminal and not get caught (which is what all criminals hope for), it would be wise if you didn’t do anything else to attract the attention of the cops. That includes driving without tags. Or speeding, drunk driving, or any other “minor” driving offense you can think of.
The traffic stop and the arrest occurred on June 30 but it was only made public the other day, the report says. On July 3, police performed a search at Hartman’s house and found more explosives: he is facing separate charges for that.
For the time being, Hartman is being held in lie of $1.8 million bail and is facing charges of possession of weapons of mass destruction, and weapons and drugs charges. Based on how high the judge set that bail, it doesn’t look like Hartman will be doing any more driving anytime soon, if you get the drift.
His rap sheet also hints at that: “Hartman was wanted on an unrelated drug charge from February when he was pulled over in the shopping center by West Lampeter Township police, the DA’s office said,” the report notes.
It doesn’t say what plans, if any, Hartman had with the grenades.
And it was all possible because Hartman was driving a car without a license plate, which just goes to show that, if you want to be a criminal and not get caught (which is what all criminals hope for), it would be wise if you didn’t do anything else to attract the attention of the cops. That includes driving without tags. Or speeding, drunk driving, or any other “minor” driving offense you can think of.
The traffic stop and the arrest occurred on June 30 but it was only made public the other day, the report says. On July 3, police performed a search at Hartman’s house and found more explosives: he is facing separate charges for that.
For the time being, Hartman is being held in lie of $1.8 million bail and is facing charges of possession of weapons of mass destruction, and weapons and drugs charges. Based on how high the judge set that bail, it doesn’t look like Hartman will be doing any more driving anytime soon, if you get the drift.
His rap sheet also hints at that: “Hartman was wanted on an unrelated drug charge from February when he was pulled over in the shopping center by West Lampeter Township police, the DA’s office said,” the report notes.
It doesn’t say what plans, if any, Hartman had with the grenades.
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