Derry man arrested after handgun found in bag at Arnold Palmer airport
A Derry man was arrested after being caught with a 9 mm handgun in a carry-on bag Sunday at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.
Westmoreland County Park Police charged Brandon Edward Emeigh, 31, with prohibited possession of a firearm and carrying a firearm without a permit. He faces a preliminary hearing July 27 before District Judge Michael Mahady in Unity.
The gun was unloaded but was accompanied by a magazine containing four bullets, Transportation Security Administration officials said. It showed on an X-ray monitor at the airport’s security checkpoint before 1 p.m.
Police said Emeigh had a prior felony conviction and was not permitted to possess a firearm. Emeigh told police the bag belonged to his wife and he didn’t check it, according to court documents.
It was the first gun caught this year at the airport in Unity, according to the TSA. TSA officers stopped four guns at the airport’s checkpoint last year.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.