Suspect opens glove box to show his gun to deputies during a traffic stop

Last night, Deputy McGinnis and his trainee Deputy Langdon were on proactive patrol in the New Smyrna Beach area when they pulled over a car with an expired tag that failed to properly stop at two intersections.

The front passenger, Teratheo Brown (DOB 7/30/1988), provided a Corrections ID and advised he had been to prison for a past narcotics offense. When Brown opened the glove box and reached inside, Deputy McGinnis saw a black handgun in plain view and asked Brown to step out of the vehicle. Brown was cooperative throughout the encounter and thanked the deputies for their professionalism.

A check of the gun revealed it was reported stolen out of New Smyrna Beach in February. It was loaded with 6 rounds including 1 round in the chamber.

In the trunk of the car, deputies found several bags containing a total of about 225 grams of cocaine. A significant amount of another unknown white powder was submitted for further testing.

Brown was arrested on charges including armed trafficking in cocaine, carrying a concealed firearm in the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon, grand theft of a firearm, and possession of narcotics paraphernalia.

Of note, Brown was released from jail in January after a November 2021 arrest on charges of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm, aggravated assault with a firearm, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

He is being held without bond at the Volusia County Branch Jail as of this writing.