Abington Township Police Department Photo by James Short.
The Abington Township Police Department has filed felony charges on a pair of men for similar incidents just a few days apart. In both cases, a traffic stop turned into far more once guns and drugs were found in each car.
On Dec. 24 around 10:17 p.m., police were on patrol in the area of Cedar Road and Glenmore Avenue in the Elkins Park section of Abington Township. Police said that they observed a black Nissan Rogue with New Jersey licenses plates traveling north on Cedar Road. According to a police criminal complaint, the vehicle had expired registration, so a traffic stop was conducted.
According to police, the sole occupant of the car was its driver Leif Lamar Hart, 24, of the 6700 block of North Fifth Street in Philadelphia. Police said that, during the investigation, they found a loaded FN 509 9mm handgun, despite Hart’s concealed carry privileges having been revoked since April 19 of 2024. Additionally, Hart was found to be in possession of 21 mylar bags containing marijuana, a weighing scale, and an assortment of cash, all “commonly associated with the sale and/or distribution of controlled substances, the criminal complaint said. Hart was also found to have two “blunts” containing suspected marijuana, police said.
Hart is charged with felony counts of firearms not to be carried without a license and manufacturing, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver (marijuana), in addition to misdemeanor charges of marijuana (small amount for personal use, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, and a summary offense of driving an unregistered vehicle.
Hart was arrested and had a preliminary arraignment on Dec. 25 where an unsecured $10,000 bail was set. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 12 at 10:15 a.m.
Just three days later, Abington police had a similar incident occur along Old York Road.
On Dec. 27, at 9:44 p.m., police were on patrol in the area of Old York Road and Washington Lane in the Jenkintown section of Abington Township when a white Ford Escape with Pennsylvania tags was seen traveling southbound on Old York Road with expired registration, police said.
A search of the tags also revealed that the registration was connected to a Dodge, and not a Ford vehicle, police said. A traffic stop was initiated, according to the complaint.
Charles David Williams, 21, of the 7200 block of Pittville Avenue in Philadelphia, was found to be the front seat passenger of the Ford Escape, according to police. The police criminal complaint reported that Williams was found to be in possession of three firearms, one grey Glock 19 9mm handgun, one black Glock 23 .40 caliber handgun, and one black Century Arms Micro-Draco 8.62x39 mm AK pistol. However, police said that Williams conceal carry permit had been revoked on Sept. 17, 2024, making him ineligible to carry such firearms on his person or in a vehicle.
Additionally, police said that Williams was in possession of 25 mylar bags, which were not Pennsylvania medical marijuana, in original packages. Police said that they’d detected an odor of marijuana emitting from the bags.
Williams is charged with a felony count of firearms not to be carried without a license and a misdemeanor charge of use or possession of drug paraphernalia. Williams was released on a signature bail. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 12 at 10:15 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Juanita A. Price.
The two cases are not related. The only connection is the closeness in time.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
