Lucas Co. jail: Gun, knife found on prisoner

The Toledo Blade is reporting that Lucas County jailers found a loaded gun and a knife hidden in the clothing of a prisoner brought in over the weekend by Toledo police.

"Somebody made a mistake," Sheriff James Telb told the Toledo Blade last night. "It should have been discovered at the scene of the arrest."

The incident is the second in two months in which jailers have found loaded guns on suspects arrested by Toledo police, Sheriff Telb told the Blade.

From the story:

Police charged Recoa Hickenbottom, 32, of 739 Bronson Ave., on charges of public indecency and disorderly conduct about 10:30 p.m. Saturday and took him to the jail.

He was seen engaged in a sex act with a 28-year-old woman on the sidewalk in the 1900 block of Lagrange Street as traffic sped by, according to a police report. Both were arrested.

At the jail, Mr. Hickenbottom was led to the booking desk, his hands handcuffed behind him, to be processed and admitted, Sheriff Telb said.

He said a booking officer found a folded four-inch knife in a sheath tucked in the suspect's belt and a .380 semiautomatic pistol in a jacket pocket.

A bullet was in the firing chamber of the handgun, and six rounds were in the magazine.

An additional charge of carrying a concealed weapon was filed against Mr. Hickenbottom.

The Blade story goes on to note that in early January, a loaded handgun was found on a prisoner during a strip search when he was given jail clothing to wear after he was booked.

"It was almost the same kind of scenario but the booking officer didn't discover it right away," Sheriff Telb was quoted as saying.

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