Three Aiken men are facing charges after a traffic stop on York Street on Thursday.
Devin Smith, 21, was charged with simple possession of marijuana, violation of child restraint law and unlawful carrying of a firearm; Julius Gardner, 21, was charged with simple possession of marijuana and unlawful carrying of a pistol; and John Adams, 23, was charged with simple possession of marijuana.
Aiken Department of Public Safety officers initiated a traffic stop at 12:50 p.m. Thursday.
Officers noticed the vehicle parked in the fire lane in front of a store and started to make contact with the driver, according to reports.
As the officer got closer, the front seat passenger jumped into the driver's seat and started driving away, police said.
Officers noticed a child standing in the back seat of the vehicle, according to reports.
The driver came out of the store and told officers he was the one who had parked in the fire lane, police said.
Officers began to write tickets for fire and child safety violations as a drug search unit searched the vehicle, according to reports.
The rear seat passenger (Gardner) then told officers he had a gun on his hip, police said. Gardner was handcuffed and the gun, a Taurus .40mm semi-automatic pistol, was confiscated, according to reports. The other men were searched with no results, according to reports.
The vehicle search yielded a Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun under the armrest with one magazine loaded and several hand rolled, partially burned cigarettes believed to contain marijuana, police said.
The child was released to a family member and the three men were transported to Aiken County detention center, where Gardner and Smith remained Friday. Adams was released.