Cops: Lawrence Man Had Gun, Bags of Pot in Car

A routine traffic stop led to the arrest of a Lawrence man in Inwood on Saturday after police allegedly found a gun and bags of marijuana in his car.

On Sept. 7 at 3:10 p.m., members of the Bureau of Special Operations observed Kyheim Lameek Bethea, 32, driving a 1998 Nissan eastbound on Mott Avenue without wearing a seatbelt, according to police. Officers pulled Bethea over, and allegedly detected the smell of marijuana from the car.

Police then allegedly recovered two large clear bags containing a substance believed to be marijuana underneath a jacket on the rear seat. A loaded .40 caliber Ruger handgun was also allegedly found in the mesh pocket of a knapsack in the trunk of the vehicle. The defendant was taken into custody without incident.

Bethea was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree criminal possession of marijuana and operating a vehicle without wearing a seat belt.