Hunter
03/08/21
An Iowa City man who has been previously charged with multiple felonies was arrested after police found him in proximity of a handgun during a traffic stop.
The incident in question occurred February 27th in the 1900 block of Keokuk Street at around 5:45pm. Officers stopped a GMC Yukon due to their knowledge that the driver’s status was barred. 31-year-old Christopher Burnett of Broadway Street was a passenger in the front seat. The driver allegedly admitted that there was a firearm in the glove box, but said it belonged to his girlfriend’s cousin.
A check of Burnett’s record showed him wanted on a warrant from another county. Due to his easy access to the firearm, officers asked Burnett out of the vehicle. A bag of marijuana was reportedly then observed on the seat Burnett occupied, and a 9 millimeter handgun with a black magazine and gold colored ammunition was retrieved from the glove box. Burnett allegedly admitted to being a felon, and told police that the firearm shouldn’t have his fingerprints on it.
While being transported to jail for booking, he dropped something on the floorboard of the squad car that Burnett said was his cellphone. An officer went back to look and discovered the item was actually a magazine matching the handgun retrieved from the stop. A review of in-car video clearly showed Burnett drop the magazine.
A warrant was requested on March 1st, and he was taken into custody Sunday afternoon. He faces Dominion or Control of a Firearm as a Felon, and could be sentenced to up to five years in prison if convicted.