Largo Man with Concealed Weapon Arrested at Airport

A Largo man was arrested after trying to get through a security checkpoint with a loaded handgun at St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport Friday morning.

Charles W. T. Wright was trying to take Allegiant Air Flight 860 to visit family in Lexington, Ky., according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Wright, 45, was going through the airport's security checkpoint around 6:45 a.m. and placed his blue, nylon, backpack on the x-ray machine, according to investigators. Transportation Security Administration officials recognized an item within a blue case as a firearm and called for deputies. 

That is when deputies confirmed the weapon as a loaded KelTec 32 caliber handgun.

Wright, who works as a marine mechanic, said he keeps the gun for protection and forgot to remove it from his backpack after working the night before, according to investigators. 

Wright was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed firearm, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. He was released on $5,000 bond.