On Sunday, Takoma Park Police officers were enforcing traffic laws at 3 a.m. in the area of New Hampshire and Avenue and Holton Lane. There, they observed a driver make a prohibited U-turn.
Ta’Liyah Tapp, 24, of Temple Hills, Maryland, was arrested and charged with possession of an unregistered firearm, illegal transport of a handgun in a vehicle, having an open alcohol container in a vehicle, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
When they approached the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Tapp opened the glove compartment to retrieve her license and registration. There officers saw the handle of a handgun. An open container of alcohol was also seen inside the vehicle.
Tapp was removed from the vehicle, and a probable cause search led to the recovery of a loaded handgun. The firearm was determined to be unregistered.
As officers attempted to take Tapp into custody, she resisted arrest, pulling away and making verbal threats to fight and spitting on the officers. She was eventually taken into custody without further incident.
Tapp was transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit.
