A 16-year-old Silver Spring teen has been arrested and charged as an adult after police say he was found in possession of a loaded ghost gun and suspected marijuana inside a Takoma Park apartment building.
Takoma Park Police Chief Antonio DeVaul announced the arrest of the teen, who faces charges including possession of a loaded handgun on a person, handgun on a person, possession of a firearm without a serial number, possession of a firearm as a minor, and obstructing and hindering an investigation.
Officers responded around 4:20pm on February 26 to the 7600 block of Maple Avenue for reports of juveniles smoking in a residential stairwell. A complainant told officers a group of juveniles were smoking a controlled dangerous substance near the 14th floor. Police canvassed the building and located a group on the 12th-floor landing. Three juveniles fled on foot when they saw uniformed officers.
Two 16-year-old males, one from Takoma Park and one from Silver Spring, were detained at the scene. Officers reported observing suspected marijuana, rolling dice, and detecting the odor of burnt marijuana in the stairwell.
During the encounter, officers said one juvenile repeatedly checked his waistband in a manner consistent with concealing a weapon. When asked if he had a firearm, police say he denied possessing one and attempted to pull away and flee. He was taken into custody after a brief struggle.
A subsequent weapons check led to the recovery of a loaded Polymer 80-style handgun, commonly referred to as a ghost gun, which did not have a serial number. The firearm contained a 10-round magazine with one round chambered. Eleven live 9mm rounds were recovered and entered into evidence. The handgun was secured and transported to the Takoma Park Police Department for processing.
A search incident to arrest also resulted in the recovery of suspected marijuana from the teen’s jacket pocket. The substance was submitted for destruction.
Three additional juveniles who fled were later located in a nearby parking lot and detained without further incident. All five juveniles were transported to the Takoma Park Police Department, and parents or guardians were notified. A K9 unit from the Montgomery County Police Department assisted in searching for additional weapons or evidence, but the search did not yield further findings.
Authorities confirmed through the Maryland State Police Gun Center that the teen was prohibited from possessing a firearm. He was transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit without incident.
The teen and the four juveniles with him were issued trespass notices barring them from returning to the property for at least one year. The remaining juveniles were released to their parents. The investigation remains ongoing.
