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TWO ARRESTED WITH SAWED-OFF SHOTGUN

By Ray King/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Monday, June 29, 2009 11:24 PM CDT

Two Pine Bluff men were arrested Saturday after police found a loaded sawed-off shotgun in the back seat of their vehicle.

Following a court hearing Monday, Circuit Judge Jodi Dennis ruled prosecutors had probable cause to charge Orlando Walker, 33, and Darryl Williams, 25, with criminal use of a prohibited weapon, based on an affidavit from police Detective Brad Vilches. The judge also ruled Williams could be charged with felon in possession of a firearm because of a prior conviction.

Deputy Prosecutor Nicole Pugh said officers were sent to the 200 block of L.A. “Pexy” Davis drive Saturday to meet a caller, and then to the area of Reeker and Short Willow streets where they received information that two men in a van had shown someone a gun.

Pugh said officers found the van and saw two men, later identified as Walker and Williams standing outside it, then told the men to stop when they started to walk away.

Vilches reported that police patted down the men for officer safety, then saw a loaded, sawed-off shotgun in the back of the vehicle and placed them under arrest.

Pugh said Walker, who is currently on probation after being convicted of first-degree battery in 2007, denied any knowledge of the shotgun, while Williams, who was reportedly intoxicated, also denied knowing about the gun.

Because of the prior conviction, the judge set a $10,000 bond for Williams, and set a $2,500 bond for Walker, who Pugh said had no prior convictions.

Both men were told to come back to court July 13.

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