Foot chase in Paducah leads to arrest, gun and drugs recovered

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

PADUCAH, Ky., (KBSI) — A Paducah man was arrested Wednesday evening after a foot chase led police to recover a firearm and marijuana outside a local facility, according to the Paducah Police Department.

Officers said they saw a silver passenger car commit a traffic violation before parking in a business lot. The driver, identified as Christian M. Smith, 18, of West Paducah, briefly went inside the store, then walked away, leaving the vehicle behind.

When officers attempted to make contact, Smith fled on foot, running through several yards and jumping two fences before entering the Easter Seals facility at 801 N. 29th Street, where he sat down at a table in the lobby. Officers quickly located and arrested him without further incident.

Police said Smith admitted to having approximately 3 ounces of marijuana and told officers he had hidden a Glock handgun in nearby bushes. Both the firearm and marijuana were recovered. The Easter Seals facility was briefly placed on lockdown during the incident.

Smith was booked into the McCracken County Jail on charges of unlawful possession of a weapon on school property, tampering with physical evidence, second-degree fleeing or evading police, possession of marijuana, and second-degree disorderly conduct.

The incident occurred around 5:09 p.m. in the 2800 block of Trimble Street.