By Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A Stillwater man, who allegedly began to reach for a pistol during a traffic stop, has been freed on $25,000 bail pending a Dec. 14 court appearance on a felony charge of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute along with misdemeanor counts of having drug paraphernalia and brass knuckles.
If convicted of the three-count charge, Daniel Joseph Walden, 32, could be incarcerated for eight years and 30 days. Walden could also be fined $101,500 if convicted.
“While speaking with Daniel, I observed a black semi-automatic pistol on a bag in the front passenger seat of the vehicle. I asked Daniel about the pistol and he began to reach for it,” Stillwater Police Officer James Droescher alleged in an affidavit filed last week.
“I drew my service pistol and gave Daniel verbal commands not to reach for the gun. Daniel was not compliant, but had moved his hands away from the pistol. I requested additional officers to respond.
“Daniel appeared to still have the vehicle in drive and I gave him verbal commands to place the vehicle in park. Daniel did not immediately comply and began yelling about me having drawn my service pistol.
“Daniel then closed the door to the vehicle and rolled up the window. I moved to my patrol unit for cover and continued to give verbal commands to Daniel. Daniel refused to exit the vehicle and I observed as he threw a brown cloth bag from the vehicle onto the sidewalk in front of the car.
“I was able to talk Daniel into exiting the vehicle. Daniel then reached into the front pocket of his jeans and I observed as he pulled what appeared to be a pair of brass knuckles from his pants pocket and place it on the rear of the vehicle,” the officer alleged in his affidavit.
The brown bag on the sidewalk had two bags of suspected methamphetamine, one with 6.1 grams and the other with 3.4 grams, along with a broken glass smoking pipe, the affidavit alleged. Other police officers retrieved two loaded pistols from the vehicle and a digital scale with white crystalline residue, the affidavit alleged.
Walden was arrested at 5:03 am on Oct. 24 in the 900 block of S. Main Street, according to the affidavit.
