By Bonnie Culverhouse
By law, convicted felons and firearms can’t mix. But one local man tried anyway, and was arrested for his efforts.
Carl Rugly, 35, of the 300 block of Plateau Street, Minden, was arrested by Minden Police and charged as a felon in possession of a firearm.
Minden Police Chief Steve Cropper said an anonymous tip led officers to Front Street where a witness had seen Rugly wearing a backpack and holding a firearm.
Officers responded and saw a male with a backpack trying to hide between a mobile home and trash can.
“The subject, Rugly, was called out and detained,” said Cropper. “Officers walked over to the trash can and located a handgun on the ground.”
Cropper said Rugly, a multi-time convicted felon, admitted the firearm was his.
“Lt. Kenneth James asked Rugly about the weapon,” said the chief. “He told the detective that the firearm belonged to his mother and he’d had it for about two days.”
James reportedly told Rugly that as a convicted felon, he could not have a firearm.
“Rugly said he knew that he was a convicted felon and not supposed to have the firearm, but he did for protection,” Cropper said. “He denied ever using a firearm in a crime.”
In April 2016, Rugly was convicted of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling. In June, 2021, he was convicted of possession of a controlled dangerous substance.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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