15-year-old caught roaming with guns in Ga. neighborhood while kids were getting off bus: Police

VALDOSTA, Ga. — A 15-year-old was arrested after police said he was caught walking around a Georgia neighborhood with guns and illegal drugs.

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According to Valdosta Police, on Oct. 18 at 2:45 p.m., detectives were patrolling the area of Ora Lee West Homes.

Officials said that while patrolling, they noticed a 15-year-old boy walking through the complex holding on to a handgun that was in his front pocket.

As detectives approached the boy to begin investigating, the teen reportedly took steps leading authorities to believe he was going to run.

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Valdosta officials said the teen then turned to detectives and pulled out another gun from his waistband. After authorities gave multiple verbal commands, the teen was detained.

According to police, detectives recovered a handgun and a rifle from him. Officials said they also found more than 36 grams of cocaine in his pocket.

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“The fact that a 15-year-old was walking around in a housing area with two firearms, especially while children were getting off their school buses, is alarming. This juvenile’s actions could have quickly caused a different outcome. I am extremely proud of this work by our narcotics detectives. There is no doubt that these detectives stopped this juvenile from committing a violent crime,” Chief Leslie Manahan said.

The teen was arrested and faces multiple charges including, possession of a schedule II drug with the intent to distribute, possession of cocaine within 1000 feet of a housing authority, possession of cocaine within 1000 feet of a park, criminal use of an article with an altered identification mark, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a person under 18 years of age.

The department states that he was taken to a Regional Youth Detention Center. His identity was not released.

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