Harrington man arrested on weapons charges

DOVER, Del. – Delaware State Police arrested a Harrington man early Wednesday morning after he was found in possession of a firearm during a traffic stop.

At around 1 a.m., a trooper stopped a vehicle on N. DuPont Highway that was traveling over the posted speed limit. Contact was made with the driver and front seat passenger, 41-year-old Paul Ridenour. Ridenour reportedly gave a false name to the trooper on contact, but his identity was revealed a short time later.

Troopers then found a sock on the front passenger’s seat containing 19 9mm bullets, and on the rear floor board of the vehicle there was a handgun loaded with one round in the chamber and five rounds in the magazine. A computer check revealed that Ridenour was a prohibited person and had an active capias. He was charged with possession of  firearm during the commission of a felony, two counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a person prohibited, carrying a concealed deadly weapon, and criminal impersonation. He was held at SCI on $28,500 secured bond.

The 49-year-old male driver was issued a traffic citation for speeding and released.