BEDFORD — A routine traffic stop for an expired license plate led to the arrest of a transient man in Bedford who was allegedly in unlawful possession of a handgun with a prior conviction.
Carl D. W. McCarty, 35, was taken into custody on December 6th after a Taurus 9mm handgun was located on his person following a search of the vehicle he was driving.
According to an Affidavit for Probable Cause filed by Bedford Police Department (BPD) Officer Sarah Haluda, the incident began at approximately 3:50 p.m. on December 6, 2025, in the area of 16th St and M St.
Officer Haluda observed a white GMC Sonoma with an Indiana license plate displaying a 2023 expiration date, partially covered by the remnants of a green sticker. After confirming the plate’s expired status, Officer Haluda initiated a traffic stop.
McCarty, the driver, and his two passengers all stated they did not have their identification on them. McCarty, however, provided an unsigned title for a different vehicle.
Officer Haluda noted inconsistent stories and suspicious behavior from the vehicle’s occupants.
A male passenger said they had just picked him up from an address on Sunny Acres Drive. But McCarty said they had left an address on 16th Street and were headed to the hospital for a medical issue the female passenger was experiencing.
Due to the inconsistent narratives, a canine unit was requested. Officer Bell and his partner, Castiel, conducted a free-air sniff around the vehicle, resulting in a positive alert for the presence of narcotics.
The positive K9 alert provided probable cause for a vehicle search. During the search, officers located several used syringes in a drawstring bag in the back seat. All parties were then searched.
It was at this time that McCarty admitted to having a firearm, and the Taurus 9mm handgun was subsequently recovered from his person.
Further investigation into McCarty’s criminal history by Officer Bell revealed several prior convictions, including:
- Domestic battery (2019)
- Unlawful carrying of a handgun (2022)
- A current pending felony charge in Martin County
The affidavit specifically notes that the domestic battery case includes a determination form explicitly barring McCarty from possessing a firearm.
McCarty was immediately taken into custody and transported to the Lawrence County Jail. The handgun was seized as evidence. The syringes were disposed of in a sharps container.
The passengers were released from the scene, and the female was given possession of the truck at McCarty’s request.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent until proven guilty through a fair and due legal process. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
