Assault rifle found during DUI arrest

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - Police recovered an assault rifle that had been hidden from view during a DUI arrest Thursday afternoon, according to officials.

Jan Westerbeck with the Portsmouth Police Department said an officer saw a blue Acura stopped in the roadway at the intersection of London Boulevard and Broad Street just before 3 p.m. The driver of the Acura reportedly made a U-turn and stopped at a green light.

The officer was able to pull the driver over in the 1100 block of Mt. Vernon Avenue and discovered he was under the influence, Westerbeck said.

The driver, Michael Smith, 28, of Suffolk, allegedly failed several sobriety tests and was charged with felony driving under the influence of alcohol.

Westerbeck added the officer located a loaded AR-15 assault rifle hidden from view in the passenger seat. Smith was also charged with carrying a concealed weapon while intoxicated.