Crime & Safety
Indiana Man Arrested, Cited With Gun Charge at St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport
An Indiana man on his way home claims to have forgotten a pistol in his baggage, which was discovered at a security checkpoint.
An Indiana man was taken into custody for concealing a firearm, discovered at a security checkpoint at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport late Thursday afternoon.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office reports Michael Shelton, 57, of 10936 Hickory Tree Road in Fort Wayne, Ind., was arrested 4:17 p.m. when Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials discovered a nine-millimeter Smith and Wesson pistol in a brown leather duffel-type bag going through a monitoring device at a security checkpoint.
TSA authorities immediately summoned Pinellas County deputies who took Shelton into custody, charging him with carrying a concealed firearm, which is a felony charge. The deputies were on site, already assigned to patrol the airport.
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Shelton attempted to board an Allegiant Flight 890 destined for Fort Wayne, Ind. Deputies say Shelton was visiting the area, was fully cooperative and apologetic, claiming he forgot the pistol was in the bag.
Information provided by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office initially had an incorrect charge of carrying a concealed weapon.