POTTSVILLE - Pottsville Police have charged two men after an incident involving a firearm last weekend.
Contact was made with Latimer who reported his Taurus G2C 9mm handgun was stolen from his backpack on Saturday, July 22nd, 2023, while he was in downtown Pottsville. Latimer added that he was located at North Centre Street and West Market Street when the firearm was stolen. The firearm was entered into NCIC (National Crime Information Center) as requested.
While conducting a follow-up investigation for a fight that occurred on July 22nd, 2023, Police learned that Latimer’s firearm was involved. The fight was located in the 100 block of Logan Alley and involved at least five males.
While conducting a follow-up investigation for a fight that occurred on July 22nd, 2023, Police learned that Latimer’s firearm was involved. The fight was located in the 100 block of Logan Alley and involved at least five males.
Police gathered video footage from that area that showed Latimer involved in a fight with two other males, later identified as Robert Banks III and Jonathan Bellard.
During the fight, Latimer removed his handgun from his waistband and pointed it at others involved. He then tries to “pistol whip” Banks and begins to fight Banks and Bellard at the same time.
During the fight, Latimer removed his handgun from his waistband and pointed it at others involved. He then tries to “pistol whip” Banks and begins to fight Banks and Bellard at the same time.
Latimer ends up losing possession of his handgun and it fell to the ground. Bellard then took possession of the handgun and the group dispersed when they learned the Police were coming. Police noted that no party involved in the fight wished to pursue criminal charges against each other.
More video footage located Bellard running with the handgun, with Banks running with him in the area of South 2nd Street and Mahantongo Street.
More video footage located Bellard running with the handgun, with Banks running with him in the area of South 2nd Street and Mahantongo Street.
Banks is later seen on video removing the handgun from his waistband and placing it into a backpack in the 300 block of West Norwegian Street. Police checked Banks’ criminal history and it showed that he was currently on probation through Berks County and he was also a person not to possess a firearm due to a previous conviction of a Felony.
Banks was later taken into custody and admitted to possessing and concealing the firearm after he took possession of it from Bellard. He was charged by Ptlm. Delinko with one count of Possession of Firearm Prohibited (F2), one count of Receiving Stolen Property (F2), and one count of Firearms Not To Be Carried Without A License (F3). Banks was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Bayer and bail was set at $10,000 – 10%. He was transported to the Schuylkill County Prison on his active charges from Pottsville PD and also on a probation detainer from Berks County.
On Sunday, July 30th, 2023, Police spoke with Latimer regarding the incident and he admitted to making a false report on July 22nd, 2023. A criminal complaint was filed on Quandre Latimer by Ptlm. Delinko charging Latimer with one count of False Reports to Law Enforcement (M2).
Banks was later taken into custody and admitted to possessing and concealing the firearm after he took possession of it from Bellard. He was charged by Ptlm. Delinko with one count of Possession of Firearm Prohibited (F2), one count of Receiving Stolen Property (F2), and one count of Firearms Not To Be Carried Without A License (F3). Banks was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Bayer and bail was set at $10,000 – 10%. He was transported to the Schuylkill County Prison on his active charges from Pottsville PD and also on a probation detainer from Berks County.
On Sunday, July 30th, 2023, Police spoke with Latimer regarding the incident and he admitted to making a false report on July 22nd, 2023. A criminal complaint was filed on Quandre Latimer by Ptlm. Delinko charging Latimer with one count of False Reports to Law Enforcement (M2).