Britt Reid faces gun, drug charges

Britt Reid was standing at the scene of his brother Garrett's traffic accident in Plymouth Township last week and told police he had waved a silver flashlight at a motorist he had argued with earlier, authorities said yesterday.

Police investigating the road-rage incident involving Britt Reid said that was among several times he changed his answer when asked that day whether he instead waved a brushed stainless-steel handgun at the other motorist.

Yesterday, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office filed a litany of gun and drug charges against the 21-year-old son of Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid stemming from the incident in West Conshohocken on Jan. 30.

Hours later, Britt Reid arrived in a police car at a King of Prussia court building to face arraignment. Wearing handcuffs and shackles, he was escorted by police past about 20 photographers and reporters into the courtroom.

He is accused of pointing a handgun at another motorist and was charged with carrying a firearm without a license, a third-degree felony under Pennsylvania law.

He also was charged with drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, simple assault, making terroristic threats, possession of an instrument of crime and making a false report to law enforcement authorities, the District Attorney's Office said. He could face up to seven years if convicted.

"Obviously these are very serious charges," said Risa V. Ferman, the first assistant district attorney, during an earlier news conference in her Norristown office. She called Britt Reid's actions "violent, menacing and threatening."

She said a police search of Reid's SUV after the incident had turned up a Remington shotgun and small quantities of marijuana, cocaine and the prescription painkiller oxycodone.

Reid was released after posting 10 percent of $100,000 bail, pending a preliminary hearing Feb. 16. A check for that amount was written by his mother, Tammy Reid, who was not with him for the court appearance.

When reached by phone yesterday, William J. Winning, who represents both Reid sons, said he "declined to provide comment."

No charges were filed yesterday against Garrett Reid, 23, in connection with the Plymouth Township traffic accident. Police are still awaiting test results related to that case. Garrett Reid "acknowledged using heroin" that day, according to a search-warrant affidavit.

Yesterday a source familiar with the case said preliminary toxicology tests on Garrett Reid's blood have found heroin in his system.

The two incidents are not related.

The one involving Britt Reid occurred at Matson Ford Road in West Conshohocken when Reid and another driver, identified as Larry Johnson, 36 of Delaware County, passed each other and stopped at a traffic light and exchanged words.

According to court papers, Britt Reid allegedly got out of his SUV and approached Johnson's truck. At that point, Johnson said he told Britt Reid to get back in his car.

Reid returned to his car, reached behind the seat and took out a platinum-colored pistol, which he pointed at Johnson and laughed, according to police. Britt Reid then drove off.

Johnson called 911 and said he had been accosted by "a white kid trying to act like a gangster." He gave them the SUV's tag number, which police say was registered to Tammy and Andy Reid.

West Conshohocken police were able to make contact with Tammy Reid, who was on vacation in Southern California. She said Britt Reid was using the 2004 GMC Denali involved in the incident because his pickup truck was being repaired. According to court papers, Tammy Reid told officers "Britt Reid had a handgun, which she believed was legally registered."

West Conshohocken police made contact with Britt Reid and set up the 3 p.m. appointment at headquarters. But instead Reid went to the scene of his brother's accident.

It was there that Britt Reid was first questioned by police over the road-rage incident. He told a Plymouth Township detective it was Johnson who "pulled a gun on him."

Police then had the black SUV Britt Reid was driving towed from the scene.

In a later search of the vehicle, police found plastic bags with white residue; containers holding white powder and a green, leafy substance; and four small, white pills - as well as a shotgun and ammunition, according to court documents.

Authorities said today that the shotgun was purchased legally by Britt Reid.

Britt Reid admitted to West Conshohocken offficers he had a shotgun in his SUV but said he never had a handgun with him in the car and he never displayed a handgun to the other driver. He said he had a handgun at his home.

Ferman said that a .45-caliber handgun was found in a search of the Villanova house that Reid shares with his parents and other family members.

Police said Johnson was able to give authorities an accurate description of the weapon - something police said he "could have only done if he had actually seen the pistol when Reid pointed it at him."

Britt Reid told police the handgun was given to him by his uncle Jarrod Todd Garrad when he was a college student in Arizona.

Ferman said they are still trying to determine who purchased the gun and if it is registered.

As part of conditions for bail, Britt Reid will be subject to random drug testing and can only drive to and from Montgomery County Community College where he is taking classes.