Paul Channell, age 30, of Nashua

HUDSON – A police officer who reported noticing a Toyota Camry being driven in an erratic manner on Central Street Sunday night pulled the car over, and after speaking with the driver charged him with driving under the influence of alcohol, according to police.

But upon taking the suspect, Paul Channell, 30, of Nashua, into custody, police said a firearm was discovered “in proximity to Channell while he was operating the vehicle,” along with an open container of alcohol.

Both the gun and the alcohol were seized “for safekeeping,” police said, and Channell was transported to police headquarters for booking on the DWI and open container charges.

During that process, police said officers discovered that Channell is a convicted felon, which makes it illegal for him to possess a firearm or other deadly weapons.

That charge is a Class B felony, while the DWI is a Class B misdemeanor and the open container a violation-level offense.

Also during the booking process, police charged Channell with a fourth offense of resisting arrest, a Class A misdemeanor that accuses him of failing to submit to arrest, which police said caused injury to an officer.

Channell was jailed overnight pending Monday’s arraignment in Hillsborough County Superior Court South, where Judge Charles Temple ordered him held on preventive detention.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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