A man was allegedly caught with a loaded handgun when he tried to run away from a passing police patrol.
Lisburn Magistrates Court also heard that when Keith Doddy (33) was tackled to the ground in the Drumellen area of Craigavon, officers had a “metallic clunking sound” and found the Glock pistol, loaded with an extendable magazine containing 16 bullets.
Police said the magazine has a 19 round capacity so the firearm, along with clothing seized from Doddy, has been sent for forensic testing to see had the weapon been used.
Doddy, understood to be residing in Lisburn but whose address on court papers was listed as NFA, Dublin, was charged with possessing the firearm and ammunition on February 10 under suspicious circumstances.
Police told the court how officers were on patrol around 8pm on Saturday when they saw a man running away from the liveried vehicle.
“Police gave chase and an officer tackled him as he ran past him and as the defendant was brought to the ground, police heard a metallic noise hitting the ground, like something had fallen from his person and when officers looked there was a black handgun, believed to be a Glock 17, loaded…lying a short distance away from the defendant,” said an officer.
During an exchange with District Judge Rosie Watters, the officer confirmed there were no reports of shots being fired around the same time and the seizure was a “random thing” as a result of Doddy running away.
They agreed that there is currently no forensic evidence to link Doddy to the weapon.
DJ Watters refused bail and adjourned the case to March 8.