Gun, foot chase in parking lot prompt call to get Butler Twp. police officer help

A police officer who spotted a gun at a traffic stop and a subsequent foot chase prompted the Butler Twp. call for a police officer in need of assistance Wednesday afternoon.

>> 'Signal 99' explained

Butler Twp. Police Chief John Porter said the incident began as a traffic stop, for an expired license plate, in the parking lot of Walmart Supercenter, in the 3400 block of York Commons Boulevard.

An off-duty police officer, who was participating in a ride-along with a Butler Twp. police officer, noticed the passenger in the car trying to tuck the gun into his waistband as he went to get up out of the car, Porter said.

The off-duty officer alerted the Butler Twp. officer, who drew his service weapon and ordered the passenger -- believed to be a juvenile -- to stop and drop the weapon.

The juvenile ran across the parking lot, but was captured a short time later by another Butler Twp. crew that had arrived on scene, Porter said.

Officers seized the gun at the end of the chase, the chief said. No shots were fired and no one was injured.

The foot chase involving a person with a gun prompted the call for a police officer in need of assistance, known as a “Signal 99.” That call, issued about 4:30 p.m., was for all available area police jurisdictions to send officers to York Commons Boulevard in Butler Twp.

Signal 99 issued after incident in Butler Twp. Signal 99 issued after incident in Butler Twp.

According to Butler Twp. police at the scene, the juvenile had a small amount of marijuana in his possession and they said he is believed to be a Walmart employee.

The juvenile was being detained for questioning as was an adult in the car, believed to be the driver.

Porter said the investigation is continuing, so he could not speak to whether the passenger was a Walmart employee or whether marijuana and scales used to weigh drugs were found in the car.

We will update this report as more information is made available.

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