By Mark Vester
The details surrounding the arrest of James Kirkland, which took place on Sunday in Austin, Texas, is slowly starting to come out. As previously reported, Kirkland, who is on probation for a 2003 arrest for armed robbery, was arrested for felony gun possession on Sunday, taken into custody by the Travis County Sheriff’s Office and transferred Tuesday morning to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
Kirkland was apparently pinched by the ATF as part of an ongoing stakeout on a local gun show in the area. Roger Wade, the public information officer for the Travis County Sheriff Department, told The Statesman, that the Austin PD was working with the ATF on the matter.
According to the court documents and police reports, federal agents were staking out the Saxet Gun Show and watched Kirkland give money to his girlfriend to buy .40-caliber ammunition. Authorities are alleging that Kirkland had bought the Glock pistol the day before at the same gun show for $525 and on Sunday he tried to buy another one but was turned down by a seller.
ATF agents would later follow and stop Kirkland’s Cadillac, which his girlfriend was driving at a very high speed from the gun show. Officers found the “loaded firearm” in the center console of the car.
Given the facts and the allegations being made, local authorities are doubtful that Kirkland will be able to fight on the May 2 undercard to Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas.
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