X marks the spot! A Fredericksburg man tried to play a game of hide and seek with a gun after causing a crash in Stafford County Wednesday evening.

On March 1st at approximately 5:18 p.m. deputies responded to an auto accident located in the 3200 block of Richmond Highway which resulted in the highway being closed for an extensive amount of time. The crash disabled both vehicles. The victim advised he was at a stop when he was rear ended. Both drivers were transported to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

During the investigation of the crash, Deputy G.P. McCaulley located ammunition within the striking vehicle, but no firearm. Deputy McCaulley learned the driver of the striking vehicle, Elijah Johnson, 22, entered a nearby restaurant in a bit of a rush immediately after the crash. Johnson spent a few minutes in the bathroom before calmly exiting. Leaving no stone unturned, Deputy McCaulley searched the bathroom to discover a firearm and knife had been dumped in the trashcan. After recovering the weapons, Deputy McCaulley discovered Johnson was a convicted felon. That and Johnson had a suspended license.

After Johnson was discharged from the hospital, he got a free ride to Rappahannock Regional Jail. Johnson was charged with weapon possession by a felon, ammunition possession by a felon, driving while suspended, and the traffic lane violation. He was held without bond.

Great work to everyone involved in this scavenger hunt to get another firearm off our streets, and out of our trash.