Saint Patrick's Day Shooting Arrest Made in Pottstown

A Pottstown man is facing felony weapons charges after he allegedly fired three shots outside of a home on the 400 block of South Street on Saint Patrick's Day.

Aurice Andre Andrews has been charged with possession of a firearm prohibited, receiving stolen property, firearms not to be carried without a license and resisting arrest, in connection with the March 17 incident, police said.

Police initially responded to the 400 block of South Street at 4:29 a.m. for a report of multiple shots fired. Witnesses told police that the saw a black male in dark clothing walking quickly away from the scene, the report states.

Shortly after the initial call, police encountered a man who fit the description walking northbound on Washington Street toward King Street. Police used a spotlight to illuminate the man, at which point he stopped walking, the report states.

The man gave police his identification, revealing his name to be Aurice Andre Andrews, according to the report. Afterwards, the officer began to search Andrews for a weapon, at which point he began to resist arrest, police said.

The report states that when the officer discovered a firearm tucked into Andrew's pants, Andrews spun around towards the officer and refused orders to get on the ground. While holding onto Andrews' sweatshirt as he allegedly tried to flee, the officer was able to place the firearm behind him, police said.

The officer then pulled his Taser, stating he would shoot Andrews if he failed to comply with orders, police said. Andrews laid on the ground, but not flat, as the officer noticed Andres staring at the handgun on the sidewalk in front of him, the repost states.

The officer again told Andrews that he would be shot with the Taser if he failed to comply, at which point backup arrived and police were able to handcuff Andrews without further incident, police said.

During the immediate investigation following the incident, police discovered the handgun had been stolen from a residence in Lansdale. Additionally, the weapon had been chambered and had the hammered cocked.

Andrews did not speak to police regarding the incident, outside of stating that he did not have a license to carry a firearm, the report states. Due to previous convictions of aggravated assault and multiple drug offenses, Andrews was prohibited from possessing a firearm, according to the report.

While investigating the initial scene on South Street later that afternoon, police recovered three shell casings from the roadway, which matched the caliber of the weapon they recovered from Andrews, police said.

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