Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
Local pair face charges of carrying concealed weapon
By Margie Wuebker
Two local men face charges of carrying a concealed weapon after a pair of local residents chased them down early Monday morning.
Kyle R. Poplaski, 20, 216 Portland St., Celina, and George W. Darland, 5962 Burkettsville-St. Henry Road, Coldwater, were spotted going through a parked vehicle at 606 Wilkins Street.
A passing motorist stopped and told the victim. She awakened her son, and he and the motorist, Clifford Chandler Jr. of Celina, chased the suspects and detained them near the Landmark office on Logan Street.
Celina Police responding to the 3:45 a.m. call found the men, who denied any wrongdoing. Officers found a loaded .25-caliber handgun in Poplaski's possession with the serial numbers filed off.
The men reportedly admitted they had been going through parked vehicles, and Darland, who owned the gun, passed it to Poplaski just before police arrived.
Both men made initial appearances in Celina Municipal Court Monday afternoon and remain incarcerated at the Mercer County Detention Center on $50,000 bonds.
The fourth-degree felony charges carry sentences of up to 18 months in prison, as well as $5,000 fines upon conviction.
Both cases are expected to go before grand jurors later this month.
Chief Dave Slusser commended Chandler for taking the initiative in contacting the victim and helping to track down the suspects.
"It's actions such as his that assist the Celina Police Department and other agencies in keeping our communities safe," Slusser said.
The police investigation is continuing with the possibility of additional charges.
Slusser asks anyone who believes his or her vehicles were gone through Sunday night to contact police at 419-586-2345.
