By Dawn Burleigh

The Orange Leader

While investigating a suspicious person at approximately 4 a.m. Monday, Orange Police officers were directed to a person sleeping in a vehicle at the 4200 block of 27^th Street in Orange.

The vehicle was running as a man was asleep in the driver’s seat.

An officer woke the man by tapping on the window. When the person opened the vehicle door, officers were able to smell the distinct odor of marijuana, according to a police report.

As the man was stepping out of the vehicle, an officer noticed a handgun in plain view. After Matthew Vaught, 31, stepped away from the vehicle, an officer checked the firearm and discovered it was loaded.

Upon searching the vehicle, a scale and .9 ounces of marijuana were also discovered.

Vaught was charged possession of marijuana and unlawfully carrying a weapon.