Wapakoneta Man’s Felony Firearms Case Bound Over to Grand Jury

A 25-year-old Wapakoneta man’s felony firearms case is headed to an Auglaize County grand jury after he waived his preliminary hearing Monday.

Patrick Thomas Moore is charged with improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony. The complaint alleges Moore had a loaded handgun concealed on him while in a vehicle and under the influence of alcohol.

According to a warrant affidavit, Wapakoneta police responded to the Wendy’s parking lot shortly before midnight October 23 after receiving a report of a possible impaired driver. An officer found Moore in the driver’s seat with a loaded firearm on his right hip.

Police say Moore slurred his words, acknowledged drinking alcohol and showed signs of impairment during field sobriety tests. The affidavit says he was arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle while impaired and that a test at the jail showed an alcohol concentration of 0.182.

Auglaize County Municipal Court transferred the case to Common Pleas Court on November 9 and continued Moore’s recognizance bond. Moore is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.