Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Herman Duane Harvey, 35, was booked into jail on charges of possession of a dangerous drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, misconduct involving weapons, and a warrant.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – Bicyclists are required to follow the same basic traffic laws as motorists, as one man recently learned.
According to a Safford Police report, a man riding a bicycle westbound on 12th Street was pulled over for failing to stop at the stop sign at the intersection with 6th Avenue. The incident took place at about 2:46 p.m. on Feb. 15.
While the officer interacted with the subject, the bicyclist, identified as Herman Duane Harvey, 35, dropped what is commonly known as a “tooter” straw, which is used to ingest illicit substances, according to the officer’s report.
After seeing the possible drug paraphernalia, the officer searched Harvey and located a Xanax pill in a small baggie, another “tooter” straw with black residue, and a 380 Ruger LCP with six rounds in the magazine.
The gun was found wrapped in a blue bandana in Harvey’s backpack. A records check confirmed the gun was stolen out of Safford and also advised that Harvey had an active local warrant regarding a charge of disorderly conduct.
According to the report, Harvey claimed he purchased the gun from a friend for $100 between Thanksgiving and Christmas the previous year. He later allegedly admitted that he knew his friend likes to steal things and that he believed the gun was likely stolen but his friend had denied it.
Harvey was then booked into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility on charges of possession of a dangerous drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, misconduct involving weapons, and his warrant.
The gun was placed into an evidence locker and the bicycle was placed into the police’s bike kennel for safekeeping.
