Easton man arrested for illegal possession of a firearm Thursday

EASTON — An Easton man was arrested Thursday for illegal possession of a firearm at the Pleasant Alley Apartments.

According to the Easton Police Department, detectives arrested Dennis Lee Ayers Jr., 41, and charged him with five counts, including felony firearm possession, possession of a firearm while committing a controlled dangerous substance offense and illegal possession of ammunition.

The Talbot County Sheriff’s Office Crisis Response Unit, or SWAT team, assisted Easton police and detectives with the arrest at the Pleasant Alley Apartments in Easton. A loaded handgun was found in Ayers’ apartment, and police discovered evidence connecting Ayers to possession of the gun.

Police say a shooting occurred July 7 in the area of Pleasant Alley and Blake Street. An investigation that followed found Ayers and others “were possibly in possession of firearms,” police stated in a release Friday morning.

The release added that “enough information and evidence were obtained” for detectives to get a search warrant for Ayers’ apartment and one other in the Pleasant Alley complex.

Ayers was arrested, in part, due his “violent criminal history,” police stated.

Ayers was taken to the Talbot County Detention Center and released on $10,000 unsecured bond, according to police. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 9.

Police say the July 7 shooting is still under investigation. Anyone with information can anonymously contact detectives at 410-822-1111.