Vehicle stop in Camden brings gun, DUI charges
By CAMDEN - Harold Hampton, 46, of Felton, was arrested on gun and DUI charges following a traffic stop on Saturday, Delaware State Police said.
According to spokesman Senior Cpl. Leonard DeMalto, at approximately 8:09 p.m., a trooper on patrol observed a vehicle turn onto South State Street from Banning Road. The driver failed to use his turn signal and committed several other moving violations on South State Street, police said.
The trooper conducted a traffic stop and contacted the driver, Mr. Hampton. The trooper smelled alcohol coming from Mr. Hampton’s breath and detected signs of impairment.
Mr. Hampton was subsequently taken into custody without incident for DUI. A handgun was found concealed under the front passenger seat during a search, police said.
Computer checks showed that Mr. Hampton has two prior convictions for DUI and is also a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms.
Mr. Hampton was charged with possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, third offense DUI, possession of a firearm while under the influene, and numerous trafficc offenses. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $32,100 cash bond.
