Man Pointed Gun At Another on E. Fourth Street: Police

By Jack Tobias

A South Side man is accused of pointing a gun at someone in broad daylight last week, and not only was the man prohibited from having a gun but the gun's serial number was obliterated, court records say.

In addition to gun-related charges, Jose Antonio Gonzalez Jr., who turned 23 two days before the incident, is accused of having crack cocaine and anti-anxiety medication, the records say.

According to a criminal complaint filed by city Officer Jeremy M. Clinton:

—Police responded shortly before 1 p.m. Friday (Dec. 20) to the 500 block of E. Fourth Street for a report of a man in a blue hoodie and black sweatpants who pointed a gun at another male. The tip came from a man who called the city 911 center.

—The center spotted a man on a city camera matching the description and walking east on E. Fourth Street toward Buchanan Street. After police handcuffed the man—Gonzalez—they searched him and found the gun in his coat pocket.

—The gun was a .380-caliber Smith & Wesson body guard handgun with a laser sight. It's serial number was obliterated.

—Gonzalez is prohibited from having a gun bedcause of a 2009 felony conviction involving drug charges. He also did not have a license for the gun.

—During the search, police also found several individually wrapped off-white rocks that were suspected to be crack cocaine. In all, police found 17 corner-tie bags of crack.

—Gonzalez also had $125.25 in cash and a blue pill that turned out to be the anti-anxiety medication Clonazepam, also known as Klonopin.

Gonzalez, of 1282 Steel Ave., second floor, was charged with persons not to possess firearms, firearms without a license, possession of firearm with altered manufacturer's number, possessing a controlled or counterfeit substance and "prohibited acts" (both for the Clonazepam), possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine, and disorderly conduct.

He was arraigned later Friday afternoon by on-duty District Judge James Narlesky of Hanover Township (Northampton County) and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.