YOUNGSTOWN — A man and woman were arraigned on similar charges this week after police made traffic stops and discovered people with guns and drugs.

Ian D. Thomas, 30, of Cameron Avenue was arraigned Wednesday in Youngstown Municipal Court on improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle and fentanyl-related compound possession. Bond was set at $6,500 at his arraignment. No plea was required. He remained in jail Thursday.

It stemmed from a traffic stop at 9:58 p.m. Tuesday at Wick and Strambaugh avenues on the North Side in which officers saw a Pontiac Grand Prix traveling south on Wick with an inoperational license plate light and found that the registration on the vehicle was for a Cadillac.

Thomas was the front-seat passenger. The driver said he recently bought the Grand Prix and had not transferred the title but provided transfer paperwork. Officers explained to the driver that officers were “looking for people possessing illegal firearms and narcotics.” Thomas became extremely agitated and nervous and yelled out, “I just want to go home,” police stated in a report.

Officers asked Thomas to exit the car, which he did, but he leaned toward the car door. An officer heard something dropping and saw a handgun between the door and seat. Thomas was placed in handcuffs and the weapon was seized. Thomas did not have a carrying concealed weapon permit, police said.

Officers also found $792 in cash, a baggie of marijuana, a grinder, 48 white pills, baggie of suspected fentanyl and baggie of a white substance in a fanny pack Thomas was wearing. The driver was released with a traffic citation. Thomas was taken to the county jail.

FIRST ARREST

The first of the two arrests was at 2:01 a.m. Tuesday at Sherwood Avenue and Hillman Street on the South Side, leading to Shauntelle L. Collier, 26, of Hillman Street, being arraigned Wednesday in Youngstown Municipal Court.

No plea was required on charges of fentanyl related compound possession and improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle. Bond was set at $4,000, which Collier posted.

Officers observed a GMC Yukon with no license plate and made a traffic stop. Collier was in the front passenger seat. Police asked Collier and the driver to exit the vehicle. Police noticed Collier “manipulating” the purse next to her.

Officers found a handgun that belonged to Collier inside the purse, which was still in the car. Also in the purse were two bags of suspected fentanyl and a bag containing white pills. Collier told police the gun was hers.

The driver was issued traffic citations and released. Collier was taken to jail.