Stolen firearm seized, one suspect arrested in Columbus
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Columbus police officers have seized a stolen firearm and arrested one suspect after they were flagged down by an employee of a nearby business.
The incident began on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. when officers were patrolling the 2800 block of 8th Street. They were flagged down by an employee of a nearby business.
That is when officers learned of an unknown individual shooting in the area.
Officers then travelled north to Baldwin Street to investigate, and discovered a car parked illegally on the wrong side of the road.
“While officers were traveling toward the vehicle, it suddenly pulled away and officers observed the vehicle swerving in its lane,” police said. After conducting a traffic stop on the vehicle, officers discovered the driver to have been a convicted felon and was found to be in possession of a firearm that was reported stolen in Pennsylvania.
The suspect, Willie Barnes, is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and theft by receiving stolen property from another state.
“This call never came into dispatch and due to the detail, police were in the area and able to immediately respond,” police added.
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