CHP: Santa Rosa man found sleeping in truck with loaded gun

Officers ordered the man to raise his hands, but he instead began driving away, CHP said.|
KEVIN MCCALLUM
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A Santa Rosa man sleeping in his truck with a loaded .357 in his lap was arrested by California Highway Patrol officers early Sunday morning.

Leon Simms, Jr., 35, was sleeping in his Dodge Ram pickup on the side of Highway 101 around 2:35 a.m. when an officer pulled over to check on him and spotted the firearm on his right leg, the CHP said.

The officer called for backup and authorities then used a loudspeaker to order Simms to raise his hands.

Instead, he drove away, exiting at Hearn Avenue before stopping. Simms was “slow to respond to commands” but was eventually removed from the pickup at gunpoint and taken into custody, the CHP said.

He was booked on misdemeanor charges including possession of a loaded firearm and marijuana and driving on a suspended license.

He was released later Sunday on $2,500 bail.

You can reach Staff Writer Kevin McCallum at 521-5207 or kevin.mccallum@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @srcitybeat.

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