A stolen handgun and suspected methamphetamine were recovered Thursday, July 27, following the arrest of a suspect downtown by officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department.
Devante Smith, 26, of Bellefontaine, was charged with having weapons under disability, receiving stolen property, possession of drugs, obstructing official business, resisting arrest and for violating his probation.
Officers on patrol in the 200 block of north Main Street observed the suspect walking northbound around 9:15 p.m. along Main Street. Law enforcement has had dealings with Smith previously and was aware of an active warrant for his arrest.
When Smith and a female with whom he was walking passed by the cruiser, officers attempted to stop the suspect and make contact with him. Smith was disagreeable with law enforcement and denied his name was Devante Smith. The woman accompanying Smith also became hysterical, screaming at police and claiming their attempted arrest was illegal.
Smith continued to resist officers’ attempts to arrest him on the warrant and became increasingly argumentative and physically threatening. Police called for backup and deputies from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office also responded to assist in the apprehension of Smith.
He was eventually handcuffed and transported to jail.
As police picked up Smith and prepared him for transport a .22 caliber handgun fell from the waistband of his shorts onto the pavement.
A further search of the suspect’s belongings also turned up ammunition, and two baggies containing suspected methamphetamine. Knives and a metal pill container were also recovered at the scene of scuffle.