Tuscaloosa Police, Federal Agents Arrest Seven On Illegal Gun Charges

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Officers with the Tuscaloosa Police Department, along with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives recently made seven arrests on federal gun charges.

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Of those arrests, three involved individuals accused of participating in straw purchase schemes, which occurs when an illegal purchase of a firearm is made by one person for another.

TPD says these cases were all presented to a federal grand jury that returned indictments and warrants have been served on each of the men accused.

• Deon Detrail Hamler, 33, and Devon Demarcus Hamler, 24, are charged with conspiracy to illegally obtain a firearm. Deon Hamler is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, while Devon Hamler is charged with making fictitious statements during the purchase of a firearm. TPD investigators allege that Devon Hamler purchased a handgun for Deon Hamler at a Tuscaloosa gun store on April 20, unlawfully stating that he was purchasing the weapon for his own use. Deon Hamler is a convicted felon and is prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm.
• Christopher Desean Briggins Brazzell, 25, is charged with making false statement while acquiring a firearm, claiming that he was purchasing a weapon for himself on Jan. 31. TPD believes Brazzell purchased an assault-style rifle for a convicted felon.
• Devante Stephens, 24, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm after TPD officers responded to the DCH parking deck on March 21 on reports of a man pulling on car doors. Stephens reportedly led TPD officers on a pursuit that ended in the back yard of a 17th Street residence, with officers eventually locating a weapon in his vehicle.
• Darryl Lee Chandler, 38, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm after officers arrested him during a traffic stop on Jan. 12 and located a pistol in his possession.
• Derris Devon Sledge, 50, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm after agents with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force located a semi- automatic weapon and ammunition during a search warrant at his residence on Jan. 8.
• Christopher Demondre Callaway, 40, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. This comes after he was arrested Jan. 8 after breaking into a woman’s home, threatening her with a gun and then running from police who were called to the scene by neighbors.

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