Springfield woman pleads guilty to carrying concealed weapon

A Springfield woman pleaded guilty to a gun charge this week that stemmed from her asking officers to retrieve her purse.

Tonya Metcalf, 35, pleaded guilty to carrying concealed weapon in Clark County Common Pleas Court. A sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 7 in front of Clark County Common Pleas Judge Richard O’Neill.

Metcalf was accused of carrying a loaded 9mm handgun concealed in her purse, which Springfield police officers found as they were investigating a child welfare call, according to a bill of particulars filed by prosecutors in the case.

Springfield police began their investigation on June 30 at around 9 p.m. when officers were called to Warder Street and Howard Street because a 3-year-old boy was running around the neighborhood without an adult.

Officers found the boy with neighbors who told them where the child lived. Officers said they attempted to make contact with the residents but instead a foul odor caught their attention.

“Units were concerned (for the) safety of residents due to the deplorable conditions of the home, therefore conducted a sweep of the home,” an affidavit says. “Officers announced our presence several times loudly however didn’t get an answer. We made our way through the door, however, stumbled due to the amount of clutter and trash partially blocking the doorway.”

Police walked through the house and found two boys sleeping in a bedroom, according to the affidavit.

The boys woke up and told officers they weren’t sure where their parents were and that they didn’t know they were supposed to be watching the 3-year-old.

“(An officer) stated he had a difficult time capturing photos due to the number of bugs in the home attaching to the camera lens and making the photos go out of focus,” the affidavit says.

As officers attempted to contact family members, Metcalf drove to the house, the affidavit says.

“She approached units and advised she was just in a fight at Speedway gas station,” the affidavit says. “She stated she had gone to Speedway briefly to purchase an item and was only gone for a few minutes. She stated while she was there she was jumped by a male and struck in the head with a skateboard. Officers did observe a laceration to her head and had her get into the already on scene ambulance to be looked at”

Metcalf allegedly told officers she wanted to go to the hospital to be examined and requested they get her purse from her car, the affidavit says.

“I also located a spent .22 LR shell casing in a coin purse, which aroused suspicion. Upon further search, I located a loaded black … handgun in the purse,” the affidavit says.

Metcalf was charged in Clark County Municipal Court with endangering children and she pleaded guilty to the charge in September, online court records indicate.

The charge she pleaded guilty to in Clark County Common Pleas Court is classified as a felony in the fourth degree.

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