Man Carrying Weapons Around Newport Towne Center Arrested

Early Wednesday morning Newport police responded to a call about someone in the area of the Newport Towne Center about someone carrying guns. Newport officer, Sgt. Joshua Shults, encountered the suspect coming around the corner of the building and onto the access road. Officer Shults ordered the man to drop his weapon, and the man complied. He was identified as 34 year old Michael Ivens, a convicted felon out of Jefferson County. Ivens, who was under the influence of a narcotic, stated that people from Lowe’s were chasing him. He was in possession of a Ruger 1911 45acp pistol and an Anderson AR-15 rifle. Officers found a baggie in Ivens’ wallet containing nearly 1.3 grams of cocaine. In the Lowe’s parking lot, officers found a 2002 Chevrolet that Ivens had driven to Newport. That vehicle had bullet holes apparently made from the firearms that Ivens was in possession of. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was also charged with public intoxication.