Police: suspicious behavior and threats against officers lead to arrest and seizure of weapons

Lina PortmanMay 28, 2024

1 3 minutes read

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (EYT) — A man's alleged suspicious behavior during a routine traffic stop in Punxsutawney led to his arrest and seizure of a loaded firearm.

Court records show that on May 22, the Punxsutawney Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against a 28-year-old man. Forrest Gabriel Leeof Pittsburgh, in the office of Judicial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock.

According to the criminal complaint, on May 17, 2024 at 10:32 p.m., Patrol Officers Haines, Hallowell and Maruca of the Punxsutawney Borough Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a silver GMC truck with Georgia plates that had made an inappropriate U-turn from E. Mahoning Street onto Hampton Avenue.

The GMC was stopped at a red light at the intersection in the far right lane with the left turn signal engaged. The lane the truck was in is used to either turn right or go straight. However, the truck turned left, the complaint states.

Patrolmen Haines and Maruca activated their car's emergency lights and conducted the traffic stop, the complaint states.

As he approached the driver, he told the police that his name was Forrest Lee and that he was going to a local restaurant. He said he didn't have any identification. Officers noticed that Lee had rolled down all of the truck's windows except the driver's side window. He did not have the vehicle's paperwork, but asked if he could use the phone to get the information, according to the complaint.

Lee said he was going to DuBois for a job and was an underwater welder. He then said there was an ID in the truck. The officers allowed him to retrieve it from the back seat, the complaint states.

“Lee’s actions and story do not add up,” Officer Maruca said in the criminal complaint. “Through my training and experience, I was immediately familiar with Lee's (sic) statement on travel. This verbiage is often used by sovereign citizens to confuse or frustrate police officers.

Maruca said Lee did not immediately provide identification, a “red flag” that a person does not wish to be identified. He also noted in his report that Lee rolled down his windows to clear any odor from the vehicle. Additionally, he noted that Lee had stated that he was an underwater welder and that there were no major bodies of water in the DuBois area, the complaint notes.

Officer Maruca noticed there were Milwaukee tools in the bed of the truck and found it odd to leave expensive tools in the elements, the complaint states.

Patrolman Haines then informed Patrolman Maruca and Lee that he had several active arrest warrants for burglary and failure to pay. Once the warrants were confirmed, Lee was instructed to exit the vehicle, the complaint states.

Lee did not initially complain about the officer's requests. He started the vehicle and began to roll up the windows. Officer Maruca grabbed him by the arms and told him to get out of the truck, the complaint notes.

“Lee was passively resisting and stated he would fight if he did too (sic),” Officer Maruca said in the complaint.

As Lee was helped out of the truck, he grabbed the keys and locked the vehicle. He insisted there was nothing in the vehicle, the complaint states.

Officer Maruca told him to turn around and place his hands behind his back. He did not obey orders, the complaint states.

After making multiple threats to fight the officers, Patrolman Haines took his Taser out of his holster and put it behind his back, the complaint states.

“After assessing each officer individually, Lee took a deep breath and complained with demands,” Officer Maruca reported in the complaint.

Lee was handcuffed behind his back and searched for weapons. He had a four-inch fixed blade knife in his lower back, as well as a Leatherman knife in a leather tool pouch on his belt. Lee was safely in the back of the patrol vehicle. Lee and his personal belongings were transferred to the Jefferson County Jail, according to the complaint.

Country Side Towing was called to remove Lee's vehicle. Officer Maruca asked the tow truck driver to store the truck in his locked compound. Both companies called the next day to report that while they were removing the vehicle from the back of their tow truck, a gun had been found, the complaint states.

Officer Maruca requested a report on Lee's criminal history, which showed that Lee had been convicted of several crimes. Lee pleaded guilty to not possessing a firearm in 2018. The firearm was in Lee's physical possession or control, and it was within his reach, the complaint notes.

The next day, Patrolman Clement went to Country Side Towing to seize the firearm. He took photos of the gun and its location inside the truck. Patrolman Clement reported the gun was loaded with a round in the chamber, the complaint states.

Magazines were also seized, according to the complaint.

According to court records, a preliminary hearing is set for June 26 at 1:45 p.m., with Judge Mizerock presiding over the following charges: