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Hit-&-Run DUI Crash Leads To Struggle With Gun, Arrest

Posted at 3:26 PM, Feb 23, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-23 16:26:46-05

A man who crashed into a parked car was arrested by police after a struggle with a loaded gun.

Officials in Franklin said officers responded to a hit and run crash around 2:26 a.m. Thursday in the 1000 block of Fair Street.

According to witnesses, the suspect’s vehicle crashed into a parked car then pulled into a nearby apartment complex.

In the parking lot at the complex, police found an unoccupied Nissan Sentra that was heavily damaged.

The driver of the Sentra was 32-year-old Christopher Denham.

Authorities made contact with him at the apartment, and Denham admitted to crashing into the parked car.

However, as they were talking to him, Denham lunged and grabbed a gun in the apartment, which was when officers tackled him.

They were able to disarm him after a struggle, and police confirmed the .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun had a fully-loaded magazine with a round already in the chamber.

Reports stated Denham was impaired when he crashed into the parked car.

Authorities said they found alcohol, drugs, and drug paraphernalia in his vehicle.

He was charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, DUI, failure to report a crash, leaving the scene of a crash, and no insurance.

Denham was free on a $47,000 bond. He has been scheduled to appear in court at 1 p.m. on March 9.