By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

Police say a teen asking for a ride from an officer faces weapons charges, one of which is a felony, after he was found with a handgun with the serial number scratched off.

The teen was also charged with being a minor in possession of a gun.

Reine Struggy Augustin, 16, was charged Friday with felony possession/buying or selling a gun with altered serial number, misdemeanor carrying a concealed gun and misdemeanor possession of a handgun by a minor. In North Carolina a person must be 18 years old to legally possess a handgun.

Augustin and another male were walking in the 500 block of South Ellis Street around 5:30 a.m. An officer stopped the two because there had been some break-ins in the area, said Police Capt. Shelia Lingle.

One of teens said they were walking from a girlfriend’s house and were heading home. The two asked the officer if he could give them a ride. The officer said he could, but would need to search them for weapons before they got into the patrol vehicle.

The officer began searching one teen who took off running. The officer was unable to identify the teen before he took off. The other, who was identified as Reine Augustin, stood off to the side, but soon tried to turn and run.

The officer was able to grab Augustin and a black pistol fell from his waistband. The gun, a 9 mm, was loaded and had the serial number scratched off, Lingle said.

In other police reports:

• Police responded Friday to a domestic disturbance in the 300 block of West McCubbins Street.

• Sherwin Williams reported Saturday someone shot holes into front windows at the store with what appeared to be a BB gun at 800 West Innes St.

• A man reported Saturday someone stole his bike from his porch in the 1000 block of Richard Street.

• A woman reported Saturday someone took her dog from her backyard in the 1200 block of East Council Street.

• Police responded Sunday to a robbery with a firearm in the 2400 block of Statesville Boulevard.

• Kyshawn Quandarious Robinson, 19, was charged Friday with misdemeanor simple assault in the 500 block of South Fulton and West Marsh streets.

In sheriff’s reports:

• A detention center officer was assaulted Thursday by an inmate while at the jail.

• A man reported Thursday he was the victim of fraud in the 200 block of Sunday Drive.

• Dennis Dean Story, 53, was charged Thursday with felony possession of stolen goods in the 800 block of North Chapel Street, Landis.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.