Guns, Ski Masks, More Found During Marple Traffic Stop: Police

MARPLE TOWNSHIP, PA — Two Montgomery County men have been charged with gun and drug crimes following a traffic stop in Marple late last week, police said.

According to Marple Township Police, Tyree Jeffcoat and Nastase Owens, both 19 and of Pottstown, were charged with felony firearm possession, felony possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, felony drug possession, and related crimes.

The charges stem from traffic stop at 1:37 a.m. Friday, police said.

An officer stopped a white Honda Accord after seeing multiple vehicle code violations with the vehicle.

The officer spoke with Owens, who was driving, and Jeffcoat, who owns the vehicle and was in the passenger seat.

Police said Dempsey smelled marijuana and asked the men out of the vehicle.

Jeffcoat consented to a vehicle search, but another officer at the scene saw an extended magazine for a firearm partially sticking out of Owens’ right pocket, police said. Both were detained, police said.

Police found a loaded extended magazine and marijuana on Owens and a black 9mm Glock 19 firearm with one round in the chamber and 14 rounds loaded in the magazine on Jeffcoat.

Authorities got a search warrant for the vehicle and found a loaded gun with an obliterated serial number, a backpack with mason jars that contained suspected marijuana, $600 cash, THC "nerds" candy packages, a Pringles can with a hidden compartment that contained suspected marijuana, an Arizona Iced Tea can with a hidden compartment that contained suspected marijuana, new sandwich bags, and two black ski masks.

Both were remanded to the George W. Hill Correctional Facility where they remain after failing to post bail.

Their preliminary hearings are scheduled for Dec. 2.