A Schuylkill County man has been jailed on gun possession and assault charges following an incident last week.
According to court documents, police in Saint Clair were dispatched to a report of an armed man outside a residence on E. Caroline Ave. on the morning of May 24.
Witnesses reportedly told police that they heard shouting outside their home and they saw a black man – identified as Antonio McCord, 33 – going in and out of his home and shouting.
The witnesses didn’t understand spoken English too well so they were unsure what he was shouting.
Another witness was coming home from a walk at the same time and reportedly told police that McCord began shouting at him, too. An exchange of words led to McCord allegedly pulling a small handgun from his shorts pocket and showing it to the one witness.
Police report the witness did not say McCord pointed the gun at him but he was in fear and went back into his own residence. The witnesses did say that this was an ongoing issue and that a previous similar situation developed on May 14 in which McCord allegedly displayed a gun during a verbal disagreement between he and the victims in this latest situation.
McCord reportedly left the area in a vehicle before police arrived but during their investigation, police say the vehicle returned to the scene. McCord, police say, was in the passenger seat of the vehicle. There were several children in the back seat, police say.
No weapon was found on McCord’s person at the time, however a small, black Bayada bag was seen under McCord’s leg before he was asked to get out of the vehicle.
Police questioned McCord on whether he had a gun on him but they only got evasive answers. McCord reportedly avoided eye contact any time police asked him about the gun. McCord’s breath smelled of alcohol during this interview, police say.
During further questioning, McCord reportedly told police that he’d been involved in a verbal domestic dispute prior and while that was going on, one of the witnesses spat on him so he walked away and got into the vehicle.
Eventually, consent was given to police to search the small bag that was under McCord’s leg in the vehicle. In it, police say they found a Ruger Security 9mm handgun that matched the description of the weapon witnesses say McCord displayed during the verbal argument earlier. The gun was fully loaded at the time it was found, police say.
During a criminal history investigation on McCord, police say they discovered that he is not permitted to possess a firearm due to a prior conviction. McCord also reportedly informed police he is on probation out of Delaware County.
For the incident in Saint Clair, police have charged McCord with illegal possession of a firearm and carrying a firearm without a license, both felonies, misdemeanor simple assault and disorderly conduct, and summary offenses of public drunkenness and harassment.
McCord was arraigned before District Magistrate Judge James Reiley on the evening of May 24. Reiley set bail at $25,000 cash and remanded him to Schuylkill County Prison.
A preliminary hearing before Judge David Plachko is scheduled for July 8.
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