AKRON — Several Ohio teenagers are facing charges after Akron police found firearms and suspected drugs during a traffic stop on Thursday, Oct. 24.

According to the Akron Police Department, officers pulled over a vehicle just before 6:00 p.m. for traffic and equipment violations.

During the stop, they discovered that the 16-year-old driver did not have a valid license and issued him a citation.

The front-seat passenger, a 17-year-old male, attempted to flee on foot but was detained after a brief struggle in which he allegedly struck an officer.

Police found a loaded handgun and over 19 grams of suspected fentanyl in his possession.

He faces multiple charges, including Carrying Concealed Weapons, Improper Handling of Firearms in a Motor Vehicle, Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Resisting Arrest, and drug-related charges.

A third teen, a 16-year-old male in the back seat, was also taken into custody. Officers found a loaded handgun with a 50-round magazine in a backpack near his seat.

He was charged with Carrying Concealed Weapons and Improper Handling of Firearms in a Motor Vehicle.

The arrests highlight ongoing concerns about gun and drug activity involving youth in the Akron area.