NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – Omar Thompson, 23, of Irmo, South Carolina, was arrested in North Charleston on Monday after police discovered a hidden backpack containing a loaded stolen firearm. Thompson now faces charges related to stolen goods and is being held at the Al Cannon Detention Center.
Incident Details
According to the North Charleston Police Department, officers were patrolling the Charleston Farms community on Deloach Street when they spotted Thompson holding a gray backpack. Thompson reportedly froze when he saw the police, a reaction that raised officers’ suspicions.
Police initially left the area to observe Thompson’s behavior, later returning with additional units to conduct a foot patrol. Upon approaching Thompson, officers detected the smell of marijuana, which led to a probable cause search. During this search, they found a small amount of marijuana in Thompson’s pocket.
Discovery of the Stolen Firearm
Further investigation led officers to locate the gray backpack Thompson had been carrying under a child’s trampoline nearby. Inside the backpack, they found a handgun loaded with five 9mm rounds, including one in the chamber. The firearm was confirmed to have been reported stolen from Lexington County.
Outstanding Warrant
In addition to the charges for possession of stolen goods, the investigation revealed that Thompson had an outstanding warrant for Third-Degree Assault and Battery.
Thompson was arrested and taken into custody at the Al Cannon Detention Center, where he will face the charges related to the stolen firearm and his previous outstanding warrant.
