A Tamaqua man is charged with stealing a gun from his sister’s home.

West Penn Township police Chief James Bonner documented the case against Blaine Arner:

On Wednesday, Bonner was contacted by the Pennsylvania State Police - Fogelsville barracks in reference to a case that they were working on regarding Arner, 62.

Bonner was asked to contact Arner and have him call the barracks, so he went to the residence but he wasn’t there.

Bonner contacted Arner’s sister, who said Arner stayed at her house the night before and she discovered Wednesday morning that he had removed a gun from the residence. She said she was afraid he was going to shoot her or himself.

Arner is not able to possess a firearm because of previous charges. He is listed on the Megan’s Law sex offenders registry.

A police alert was broadcast.

Police spotted Arner driving a gold Buick on Route 443 in West Penn Township.

They attempted to stop him but he fled onto short drive where Bonner was able to box him in.

Arner was ordered from the vehicle, and he said on his own that there is a gun on the front seat in the bag.

The firearm, a Dan Wesson .357 Revolver, was in the bag and loaded, with one spent round in the cylinder.

Arner said he purchased the gun in 1982 in Virginia, and that he had to relinquish his firearms, but “they” missed this one.

Arner said that he gave it to his father in the 1990s, and that he removed it from his sister’s house.

Arner said then that he found it the day before after learning that the state police were looking for him and he decided to carry it with him.

Arner said he knows he is not allowed to possess a firearm, and that he fired the pistol on Wednesday to make sure it works.

Arner faces charges of possession of firearm prohibited, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, and firearms not to be carried without license.

Arner is currently incarcerated in the Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $75,000 monetary bail, and scheduled to have a preliminary hearing March 21 before District Judge David A. Plachko of Port Carbon.