Wildwood police officers arrested a man late Friday afternoon after a handgun was found in the backyard of a home following a foot pursuit.
Officers were following a silver Toyota that had driven straight at them when the driver stopped at 604 York Street and both of the vehicle’s occupants ran behind a house. An officer caught the passenger, 28-year-old Darius J-Vod Leonard Harris, as he came around the side of the house and took him into custody.
Officers believed that Harris went behind the house to hide something. So after he was placed in handcuffs and secured in a patrol car, they searched the home’s backyard and found a purple and black Ruger LCP .380 pistol, a Wildwood police report states.
After being read his rights, Harris said he took his girlfriend’s gun and hid it behind the house. He was then transported to the Sumter County Detention Center and charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Harris, who lives at 1100 Huey St., was released early Saturday morning on $24,000 bond.
