Man Caught With Guns And Drugs On Subway Ordered Held For Trial
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A man charged with carrying guns, drugs and a bayonet on a SEPTA subway train a couple of weeks ago (see related story) has now been ordered held for trial.
His defense attorney, however, says there's not as much to this story as you may think.
Acting on an anonymous tip, SEPTA police officer Andrew Maull says he and a partner stopped 28-year-old Jermal Ponds, who had a duffel bag carrying a disassembled AK-47, with a banana clip, a fly loaded .38, a bayonet, Percocet pills and marijuana.
But defense attorney Michael Coard says Ponds had purchased the guns legally, and when he was stopped, he cooperated fully and gave a statement.
"There were no physical threats, there was no verbal threat. There was no assaultive behavior. There was no attempt. So what we have here if you believe what the officer said, a gun possession case, no more, no less," Coard said.
Coard wouldn't comment on the statement, but authorities say Ponds indicated he was moving the guns from one location to another.
Coard also would not comment on why his client would have had the guns, but he did concede he doesn't believe Ponds had a permit to carry the guns.
