PG County Cop Gets Car Wash, Nabs Felon

A D.C. man pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm after a Prince George's County police officer who was next in line at the car wash saw a gun in his waistband.

The U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement that 21-year-old Quinton Darnell McLean pleaded guilty July 15 after being arrested early this year while getting a car wash.

McLean was traveling with two other men on Feb. 12 on the Suitland Parkway when police officers with the Prince George's County Police Department's Washington Area Vehicle Enforcement Team (WAVE) decided to run his Saturn's tag, finding that it was registered to a Mercedes, so they followed him and watched him pull into a car wash on Branch Avenue in Temple Hills, Md.

"The driver of the Saturn pulled the vehicle into the carwash bay and began washing the car while McLean and the other occupant stood outside the entrance to the carwash bay," the statement reads. "One of the officers, whose unmarked car was next in line for the wash bay behind the green Saturn, saw McLean adjusting his waistband and clutching the right side of his waistband as he stood outside the carwash bay.

"The officer knew that McLean’s behavior was indicative of an armed person, and believed that McLean had a firearm in his waistband," the statement continues. "The officer frisked McLean for weapons and recovered a loaded .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol that was tucked in the right front side of McLean’s waistband area. McLean was arrested. McLean has a previous felony conviction and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition."

McLean didn't help himself while in jail, making several calls at the detention center in which he said that he had made a "mistake" and that he should have "left the 'dog' in the glove box," the statement adds.

McLean is likely to face two years in prison under the plea agreement with no possibility of parole. Sentencing will take place Sept. 26.

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