Hidden handgun found after North Vernon dispute

A Jennings County man was arrested last week after he was found to be carrying a pistol as a felon.

North Vernon Police report that they were called to a storage unit on O&M Avenue and West Walnut Street at about 7:50 p.m. Thursday evening after an argument between two people. Witnesses said that another man, 46 year old Perry Proctor, had a handgun. Proctor did not have a permit to carry the handgun and as a previously convicted felon was not allowed to carry a gun. But police also did not immediately find a gun on him.

However a search revealed a pistol buried under a pile of leaves near a fence at the storage facility. Witnesses said that was the gun Proctor was carrying and a search of the storage unit’s video confirmed that, police said.

Proctor was arrested on a preliminary charge of carrying a handgun without a license with a prior felony conviction. The gun was taken into evidence.