Georgia Man Puts Baby on Top of Stolen Gun During Traffic Stop, Police Say

By Tom Ozimek
Tom Ozimek
Tom Ozimek
Reporter
Tom Ozimek is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times. He has a broad background in journalism, deposit insurance, marketing and communications, and adult education.
October 30, 2018Updated: October 30, 2018

Police in Georgia said a man pulled over in a traffic stop placed a 3-month-old baby on the floor of the car—on top of a stolen handgun.

Detavis Madison, 24, was allegedly driving with his infant daughter in his lap down Scenic Highway on Oct. 29 when Snellville Police officers pulled him over, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

man arrested by Georgia police
Detavis Madison is being arrested by Snellville Police during a traffic stop, in Georgia, on Oct. 29, 2018. (Snellville Police)

Madison allegedly told officers there wasn’t anyone else inside the vehicle, but when they looked inside they found his daughter sitting on the car’s floorboards, Channel 2 Action News reported. He then told them he was about to change the infant’s diaper.

When officers lifted the baby up, they said underneath her they found a stolen .40 caliber Glock model 22. A search of the car revealed an extended magazine capable of holding 30 rounds.

a handgun found in the car of the suspect
A stolen .40 caliber Glock 22 was allegedly found in a car, Oct. 29, 2018. (Snellville Police)

“He’s got an extended mag right here in between the seats. This would have been real bad, real quick,” an officer said in bodycam video.

“That’s what you’re concerned about? You’re not concerned about your daughter?” an officer can be heard asking Madison, according to the report.

“I’m concerned about my daughter,” Madison responded.

When officers continued their search, they allegedly found marijuana and at least 500 ecstasy pills in the shape of Lego characters, the news station reported.

a policeman holds up marijuana
A police officer holds up a bundle of what is alleged to be marijuana found in the car of the suspect, Detavis Madison, Oct. 29, 2018. (Snellville Police)

“This is obviously a dangerous situation for that baby on many fronts,” Snellville police Lt. John Tainter told Channel 2. “We are just glad it turned out for the best.”

The baby was handed over to her mother after Madison was taken to jail. The Conyers man remains under arrest.

Madison faces 10 charges, including felony theft, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony drug charges and transporting a child in a passenger vehicle, according to Gwinnett County Jail records, as reported by the station.

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