Public pot smoking leads to gun, drugs and three arrests in Atlantic City

A man allegedly smoking pot openly on Atlantic City street led to three arrests  and the recovery of a loaded handgun and drugs. Officers Christian Ivanov and Daniel Arra were patrolling the beach block of California Avenue after 6 p.m. when they saw Christopher Barnett smoking marijuana near a car with two women, Sgt. Kevin Fair said. As Arra went to talk to Barnett, he saw Chelsea Blair put a plastic bag into her back pants pocket, according to the report. Blair was asked to take out the bag, and it was found to be cocaine packaged for sale, Fair said. Blair, 18, was charged with drug possession, possession with intent to distribute, possession within a school zone, and possession within 500 feet of a public zone. She was released on a summons. Barnett was put in custody for the marijuana cigarette and then searched. The officers found a 9-inch knife, six grams of cocaine, and numerous small zip-lock bags that are used to package cocaine in Barnett’s pockets, according to the report. Dillihay, who was wanted on a contempt-of-court warrant, was arrested was found to have an active warrant and was arrested. Barnett, who is Dillihay's boyfriend, was seen going in and out of the vehicle, so police searched the vehicle and found a loaded handgun under the driver's seat, Fair said. Barnett, 31, was charged with two counts each of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and possession of a weapon while committing a drug crime, for the gun and the knife. He also was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute, possession within a school zone, and possession within 500 feet of a public zone. possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. He and Dillihay were taken to the Atlantic County Justice Facility.