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City police: Man had stolen handgun

As Quaheem Dontae Barnes struggled with city police during a disturbance on Friday morning near Eighth Avenue and Isabella Street, a loaded handgun spilled out onto the pavement from the 27-year-old man’s waistband.

It turned out the handgun Barnes was allegedly carrying was stolen, according to Patrolman Clinton Gardner, the arresting officer.

Moments earlier, Barnes, of 108 O’Neil Ave., had created a scene by continuously yelling obscenities at the officer, who was driving a cruiser about 9:45 a.m., according to an affidavit.

The officer told the man to stop screaming, but he kept at it, prompting Gardner to stop and detain the man for questioning.

When asked if he was carrying any weapons, Barnes replied no, but the officer saw what he thought was the butt of a firearm bulging from the right side of Barnes’ waistband.

A second officer arrived on the scene. When Barnes refused to allow the officers to search him, Gardner ordered him to put his hands on top of his head.

Barnes tried to flee, but he quickly fell to the ground after Gardner deployed his Taser gun. As Barnes rolled over, a gun, loaded with six rounds, fell from his waistband, police said. By now, a third officer had arrived to assist in taking Barnes into custody.

Following his arraignment before District Judge William Solomon on charges of carrying a firearm without a license, resisting arrest, receiving stolen property, escape and disorderly conduct, Barnes was committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $300,000 bail.

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