NORRISTOWN >> A Pottstown man faces about five years of court supervision for illegally possessing a gun in the borough, a gun that was discovered when he had an alleged scuffle with police.
Denzel Terrick Williams, 27, of the first block of North Washington Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 111/2 to 23 months in the county jail after he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of firearms not to be carried without a license in connection with the 5:24 p.m. Jan. 14 incident. Judge Gail A. Weilheimer, who accepted a plea agreement in the matter, also ordered Williams to complete three years’ probation following parole, meaning Williams will be supervised by court officials for a total of about five years.
Williams will receive credit for the time he’s been in jail since Jan. 14.
The judge said Williams, who is eligible for a jailhouse work release program, must forfeit the 9 mm handgun he illegally possessed to county detectives.
An investigation began after borough police on routine patrol in Rowan Alley heard two people yelling at each other and encountered the men, one of them identified as Williams, at the rear of a home in the 400 block of Chestnut Street, according to the criminal complaint.
While speaking with Williams, police said they detected a strong odor of marijuana and when asked if he was possessing anything Williams told officers, “no,” according to the arrest affidavit. Williams then also refused to be patted down by police.
As Williams turned to walk away, officers reached for him and Williams began to run, court documents alleged.
“An altercation ensued with officers and during the altercation, the defendant unzipped his jacket. The defendant was able to remove his arms from the jacket and throw the jacket multiple feet from officers,” Pottstown Police Officer Andrew Licwinko alleged in the arrest affidavit.
Williams was directed multiple times to stop resisting and was eventually subdued after police warned they were going to use a Taser, according to court documents.
“The jacket was recovered and in the left pocket was a loaded silver Interarms Firestar 9 mm handgun. The magazine was loaded with five live 9 mm rounds,” Licwinko alleged. Williams was found to not have an active or valid permit or a license to carry a firearm, police alleged.
Other charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct were dismissed against Williams as part of the plea agreement.
