by Alex Lloyd Gross
About 1:10 AM May 11,2024 Robert Rice of 35th Street in Philadelphia was in Bensalem. He allegedly committed a minor traffic infraction and was stopped by police. Officers saw him fumble around his center console, allegedly concealing items.
In plain view on the rear floorboard was a pistol. There was an odor of Marijuana detected as well. Rice did not have a medical marijuana card and resisted efforts from police to extract him from the vehicle, police said.
The vehicle was towed, and a search warrant was obtained. During the subsequent search of the vehicle, police recovered a Taurus .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun and marijuana. Police also seized drug paraphernalia, including baggies, rubber bands, and a digital scale. Officers conducted a criminal history search and found that Robert Rice had a robbery conviction, which precluded him from possessing a firearm. Robert Rice was charged with Persons Not to Possess a Firearm, Firearms Not to be Carried without a License, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Rice was held on $50,000 bail(10 percent) and remanded to the Bucks County Prison.