AK-Style Rifle Found In Bensalem Traffic Stop

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —A 33-year-old Montgomery County man was charged with gun possession —including having an AK-style rifle — after a traffic stop on Saturday on Park Avenue, police said.

Victor Miles, 33, of Flourtown, was charged with felony Possession of a Firearm with an Altered Manufacturer's Number, Altering or Obliterating Marks of identification, and various drug and vehicle code offenses, police said.

The Bensalem Township Police Department said a police officer spotted a dark-colored Mazda traveling south on Hulmeville Road near the intersection of Byberry Road.

The windows were heavily tinted, and as the officer got behind the vehicle, the vehicle sped up, committed a traffic violation, and came close to causing a crash with another vehicle in the roadway, police said.

The officer stopped the car on Park Avenue for the violations, standing at the rear of the vehicle and directing the driver to roll down the windows because he could not see into the vehicle due to the heavy window tint.

Miles refused to put his window down and attempted to get the officer to approach the driver's side window several times, police said.

Other officers arrived and spoke with Miles, who remained uncooperative.

One officer got close enough to the passenger side windows to look into the vehicle and determined that Miles was the only occupant.

That officer then saw what appeared to be an "AK Style" rifle on the front passenger, within reach of Miles, police said.

Officers ordered Miles out of the vehicle, and he continued to refuse the commands while occasionally reaching towards the passenger seat where the rifle was located.

Officers believed that he was contemplating grabbing the gun before exiting the vehicle.

After tense negotiations, Miles exited the vehicle unarmed and was taken into custody, police said.

The AK-style rifle was found to have an obliterated serial number, a loaded banana-style magazine, and a round in the chamber. The gun was in a condition that it was ready to fire, police said.

The vehicle was towed to the Bensalem Township Police Department, and a search warrant was obtained.

During the search, officers recovered the DPMS AR15-style rifle with an obliterated serial number, numerous loaded firearm magazines for multiple types of weapons, shotgun rounds, a black "Balaclava"-style mask, a pair of gloves, and a black hooded sweatshirt with black duct tape covering the white wording on the front.

Multiple containers of marijuana were recovered, as well as drug paraphernalia, police said.

Miles was arraigned by District Justice Kevin Wagner and was remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10 percent of $300,000 bail.

"We believe that the officer's training and experience kept this traffic stop from escalating further, and we commend his actions, along with those of his fellow officers involved in this case," the police department said.