A 39-year-old Kent man was arrested Monday evening, Oct. 5 after police said he walked away from a minibike traffic stop on East Hill and was found carrying a handgun despite being prohibited from possessing one.
The man was booked into King County Jail on suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm, according to the Kent Police Department. Police said he also faces allegations of obstructing and driving with a suspended license.
The stop began about 5:40 p.m. when Officer Lyon saw the man riding a minibike on a public road without a license plate or required safety equipment, police said. The rider was not wearing a helmet.
Lyon activated his emergency lights as the rider pulled into a gas station and stopped beside the pumps, according to the department. The man then walked toward the store despite the officer telling him he was not free to leave the traffic stop.
The rider said he needed to “get gas,” police said.
Lyon followed him inside and repeatedly told him to return to the bike, but the man refused, according to the department. Additional officers arrived, and he was detained inside the store without further incident.
Police said a pack the man wore around his neck contained a Sig Sauer 9 mm handgun and ammunition. Officers determined that his felony criminal history prohibited him from possessing the handgun, according to the department.
The man denied having felony convictions and told officers he owned the gun and had a concealed pistol license. Police said records checks did not support either claim.
The department said officers would also issue citations for operating an off-road vehicle on public roads, riding without a motorcycle endorsement or helmet, and having no license plate on the bike.
Officers contacted the man’s family, who were nearby and came to collect the minibike, police said.
