Convicted felon accused of trying to hide gun after Arnold cops were called to quell fight with neighbor

An Arnold man who is not allowed to have a firearm because of his criminal record was accused by police of trying to hide a handgun from officers responding to a call for a fight between him and a neighbor.

Troy Lyn Jones, 48, of the 1600 block of Horne Boulevard was charged with a felony count of illegal possession of a firearm. He was released from custody on a $25,000 unsecured bond and faces a preliminary hearing Aug. 25 before District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr., according to court records.

Court records show Jones is not allowed to possess a firearm because he was convicted of felony aggravated assault in 2005.

Police responding to a call at Arnold Manor shortly after 3 p.m. July 5 for a fight involving a handgun wrote in a criminal complaint that the altercation between Jones and his neighbor was over when they arrived.

While Jones was being questioned in his apartment by the Arnold police chief, another officer spotted a fanny pack-style bag under a coffee table, the complaint said.

The officer said he left Jones’ apartment briefly to question the other man, who lives three doors away. When he returned, he saw Jones trying to tuck the fanny pack under clothing in the closet, the complaint said.

The officer had to restrain Jones after he refused orders to drop the bag, the complaint said.

A .22 caliber pistol with a round partially jammed inside the barrel was confiscated from the bag, the complaint said.

Jones and his neighbor both told police they were not assaulted during the fight and were not in fear for their safety, the complaint said.

Police said video from security cameras in the hallway did not show a fight or Jones wielding a gun, police said.

Other neighbors who were interviewed said the fight happened in Jones’ apartment and that a gun “was pulled out,” but they were unable to “see anything else or who had the gun,” the complaint said.