OXFORD TWP. ? Suspicious circumstances in an industrial area spotted by an Oakland County Sheriff’s deputy on patrol Feb. 16 led to the arrest of a 22-year-old Hadley man for allegedly possessing a concealed handgun.
But it turns out the handgun was probably the least interesting of the items the deputy discovered, which included a bolt cutter, electric drill, hand-light, two bandanas and a 16.9 benzomatic torch.
Daniel James Hartwell, a 2007 graduate of Oxford High School, is facing one count of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit (a five-year felony) and one misdemeanor charge of driving with a suspended license (second offense).
He was arraigned in Rochester Hills 52-3 District Court on Feb. 16 and released on a $5,000 personal bond.
The incident occurred near the intersection of Adventure Lane and Oakwood Rd. around 12:46 a.m.
A deputy was doing business checks in the industrial complex on Adventure Lane when she observed a silver Pontiac Trans Sport minivan parked at the end of the street.
When she went to investigate, the deputy found three individuals inside the vehicle ? Hartwell, who was driving, and two other men, ages 19 and 21, both from Oxford.
Hartwell told the deputy the vehicle was stopped there because the engine was overheating and they had to put snow on it to cool it down.
The vehicle was registered to a local church pastor, who later told deputies he had given Hartwell permission to use his vehicle.
Hartwell informed the deputy that he had an unloaded .380 semiautomatic handgun in the glove compartment, but did not have a concealed pistol license. When deputies searched him at the jail, a live .380 hollow point round of ammunition was found in his jacket pocket.
Inside the vehicle, the deputy observed a bolt cutter, which Hartwell stated belonged to the vehicle’s owner. The pastor later told police the tool was not his.
Also discovered in the car was a CO2-powered BB gun and a backpack containing a drill, hand-light and torch. The backpack belonged to the 21-year-old passenger.
When asked why he had these items in his backpack, the man told deputies that ‘his car breaks down a lot.?
When asked why he would need these items given they were not riding in his car, the man indicated he was going to loan them to Hartwell.
According to the report, Hartwell told deputies ‘they had not broken in anywhere or robbed anyone and they were not planning to either.?
Neither of the passengers was arrested.
The sheriff’s department is continuing to investigate this matter.