INDIANTOWN, Fla. (CBS12) — A 16-year-old boy was arrested in Indiantown on Thursday after deputies say they found a loaded gun and a clown mask during a traffic stop.
Martin County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Michael McCarthy said deputies assigned to the West County Road Patrol Division were on a routine patrol route at night when they pulled a vehicle over for equipment violations.
During the stop, deputies say they consetually patted down the passenger, triggering the discovery of a loaded gun in the 16-year-old’s waistband.
After detaining both the driver and the passenger, deputies searched the vehicle and found a backpack belonging to the teen with a full-face clown mask inside.
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The gun and clown mask combination raised deputies’ concerns.
“Usually, having these two things doesn’t lead to good intentions,” McCarthy said. “Having a loaded firearm and a mask or face covering usually indicates that some type of crime was going to occur.”
The teen, whose name is not being disclosed due to his age, was swiftly arrested and charged with illegal possession of a concealed firearm, a felony, authorities said.
McCarthy also noted the broader risks involving teenagers and firearms.
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“When we encounter juveniles the maturity level there is not there,” he said. “They don’t fully understand the ramifications and consequences of their actions.”