A Daytona Beach, Florida, convicted felon has been arrested after attempting to enter the Volusia County courthouse with a stolen gun and meth pipe, according to authorities. The incident occurred at the Volusia County Justice Center on Friday.
The suspect, identified as a 34-year-old man out on bond for felony animal cruelty, now faces multiple charges including possession of a firearm by a state felon, possession of drug paraphernalia, grand theft of a firearm, and concealing a firearm.
Security officers at the courthouse stopped the man after noticing a loaded handgun in his backpack. The gun was found to be a stolen Ruger .22 caliber handgun with a round in the chamber and seven others in the magazine.
During questioning, the suspect claimed the gun belonged to a friend, but could not provide any details about the friend or where they lived. Additionally, a small glass pipe with burnt residue, believed to contain methamphetamine, was found in the man's pocket.
Further investigation revealed that the suspect did not have an appointment at the courthouse, despite claiming to be there to visit the public defender’s office.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office commended their court security team for their vigilance in preventing a potentially dangerous situation. The suspect is currently in custody awaiting further legal proceedings.
