SEATBELT VIOLATION LEADS TO TWO WEAPONS ARRESTS

Charles Michael Reynolds (September 6, 2013) – On September 5, 2013, at approximately 2 p.m. an Ocean City officer on patrol conducted a traffic stop in the area of 3rd Street and Philadelphia Avenue for a seatbelt violation. As the officer approached the vehicle, the officer noticed numerous used shotgun shell cartridges throughout the inside of the vehicle and a large folding knife attached to the driver’s pocket. The smell of burnt marijuana was emanating from inside of the vehicle, as well. When the officer spoke to the driver, later identified as Charles Michael Reynolds, 22, of Bristow, VA, he stated that there was a loaded semi-automatic .45 caliber handgun in the vehicle and that he did not Ryan Zachary Pritchard have a handgun permit in the State of Maryland. The officer then requested that Reynolds and the passenger, Ryan Zachary Pritchard, 21, also of Bristow, exit the vehicle while officers conducted a search. During the search of the vehicle, officers located the handgun that Reynolds mentioned, loaded magazines, two other large fixed blade knives and a metal throwing tomahawk. Reynolds has been charged by Ocean City police with two counts of possession of a concealed deadly weapon, two counts of possession of a handgun on his person and possession of a handgun in a vehicle. Pritchard has been charged with two counts of possession of a concealed deadly weapon, possession of a handgun on his person and possession of a handgun in a vehicle. Both were seen by a Maryland District Court Commissioner and released without bond.