BARNSTABLE – A 22-year-old Hyannis man was held on $25,000 cash bail, and a 56-year-old Nantucket man was held on $1000 cash bail, both at the Barnstable Correctional Facility in Bourne after they were arraigned yesterday – Tuesday, November 13th – at Barnstable District Court on firearm charges, including Defacing a Firearm Serial Number.

CLICK HERE FOR INITIAL HN COVERAGE REGARDING THIS CASE

According to a police report filed in Barnstable District Court, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Edward Alldredge, this past Sunday evening, at about 11:05 pm, observed a motor vehicle bearing a Maryland Registration drift twice across the center yellow lines on Yarmouth Road in Hyannis.

Trooper Alldredge stopped the vehicle on Yarmouth Road just north of Route 28.

During the stop, while seated in his cruiser, Trooper Alldredge reportedly observed the male passenger (Banton) lean quickly to his left and out of sight for about 2 seconds.

When Trooper Alldredge approached the passenger and asked him to roll down his window, he reportedly observed him sweating and physically shaking.

When asked why he was moving around the vehicle during the stop, the passenger reportedly replied in a shaky voice, “I have nothing illegal, just weed.”

A couple of Barnstable Police patrolmen arrived to assist Trooper Alldredge right as the passenger reportedly continued to make suspicious movements.

Both the driver and passenger were ordered out of the vehicle and pat frisked for weapons, but officers didn’t find any…

Trooper Alldredge looked in the area where the passenger appeared to have been reaching earlier and observed “a bulge” in a pocket behind the driver’s seat. A closer look revealed a gold colored handgun with the barrel pointing down and with the butt of the magazine facing toward the passenger… and within arm’s reach of the passenger.

The hidden firearm turned out to be a loaded .380 caliber handgun, the magazine containing a total of six rounds…

Both the driver and passenger were secured in handcuffs despite professing to have “no idea” who the gun belonged to.

While officer’s conducted an inventory of the vehicle, the driver reportedly called the trooper over and tried to pin the handgun on his passenger…

… but the passenger continued to insist he had no idea who the gun belonged to.

The passenger, Ryan R. Banton, age 22, of 152 Bristol Ave in Hyannis, was arrested and charged with Carrying a Firearm Without a License, Possessing a Firearm with 3 Prior Violent/Drug Crimes, Carrying a Loaded Firearm Without a License, Possessing a Firearm Without an FID Card, Possessing Ammunition Without an FID Card, and Defacing a Firearm Serial Number…

… Banton was also issued a citation for not wearing his seatbelt.

On the charge of a firearm violation with 3 previous violent/drug crimes, all of Banton’s criminal incidents were separate convictions out of Barnstable District Court. One conviction was for possession to distribute a class D substance, another conviction was for possession to distribute a class B substance (subsequent offense), and there were also 2018 convictions for possession to distribute a class A substance and possession to distribute a class B substance.

During his arraignment, the judge set Banton’s bail at $25,000 cash.

The driver, Clinton F. Davidson, of Nantucket, was arrested and charged with Carrying a Firearm Without a License, Carrying a Loaded Firearm Without a License, Possessing a Firearm Without an FID Card, Possessing Ammunition Without an FID Card, and Defacing a Firearm Serial Number.

During his arraignment, Davidson’s attorney argued his client would have a difficult time reaching around and keeping the gun behind his driver’s seat… that the placement didn’t make sense…

… the judge ended up setting Davidson’s bail at $1000 cash.

Both suspects are due back in Barnstable District Court on December 4, 2018 for their pretrial hearings…

* All suspects are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in court of law.

The following HN Video was taken the night of the arrests…

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