Police officer finds gun on man during scuffle

A 31-year-old man is facing a raft of charges after police said he fought briefly with an officer, who discovered a loaded holstered gun on the man’s hip.

Adam Volkerding of Franklin was in the Warren County Jail on Friday night on a $17,500 bond, charged with leaving the scene of a crash, driving under suspension, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, resisting arrest as well as weapons possession as a felon, Franklin police said.

The arrest and subsequent discovery of the gun began at about 2:10 p.m., when police were dispatched to the Pit Stop Drive Thru, on East Second Street, on a report of a suspected intoxicated man who drove his blue pickup truck into a beverage cooler at the business.

Police said the driver drove off, headed west East Second. A witness was able to get a description and the license plate and police found the vehicle within minutes at a residence on Victoria Drive in Franklin.

As an officer approached the suspect in the driveway of the residence, the man fled into the house. The officer knocked on the door. The man open it, spoke with the officer but locked the door and refused to come out.

The man refused to come out a second time.

The officer knocked at the door a third time , but this time did not give the suspect a chance to shut and lock the door.

A physical confrontation ensued when the officer attempted to arrest the man. During the struggle, the officer used pepper spray and took the suspect to the ground using pain compliance, police said.

It wasn’t until after the suspect was in handcuffs that a loaded handgun was located in a holster on his hip. The weapon was removed without incident.

The suspect received first aid at the scene. The officer, who was not identified by name or rank, was not injured, according to the police department.

As a result of Friday’s incident, Volkerding’s concealed weapons privileges have been suspended. He is to be arraigned in Franklin Municipal Court on Tuesday.