Shortly before midnight Tuesday, June 25, Indiana State Police Trooper Earnest Paige was sitting on I-70 around the 119-mile marker when he reported clocking a westbound Kia at 100 miles per hour in the 70 mph zone.
As he pulled out to catch up to the vehicle, Page saw it swerve into the right lane, cutting off a semi and nearly causing the truck to crash, according to a press release from Indiana State Police’s Sgt. John Bowling.
Paige got the vehicle to stop and after making contact with the driver, an 18-year-old from Richmond and his five passengers, he became suspicious.
Two troopers as well as two Henry County deputies were nearby and came to assist Paige with the traffic stop.
Further investigation by the officers turned up three handguns, two of which were loaded and had missing or altered serial numbers, the release said.
Paige arrested the driver, charging him with A misdemeanor reckless driving and possession of a handgun without a license. His passengers, a 20-year-old female from Liberty, and four Richmond teens (a 19-year-old male, an 18-year-old male and two 18-year-old females) also were arrested and charged with possession of a handgun without a license because of their proximity to where the guns were located in the car.
All six were lodged in the Henry County Jail with their vehicle being towed and impounded.