CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- What may have looked like a major crime scene to Bigley Avenue residents on Tuesday turned out to be nothing more than standard police work as a search warrant was served on a Kanawha County man.

At least three Charleston Police Department cruisers, plus three K-9 patrol units and one South Charleston Police Department cruiser, lined the 1800 block of Bigley Avenue around 1 p.m. on Tuesday to serve a search warrant on Marcus Dewayne Thompson, 31, who lives at 1814 1/2 Bigley Ave.

Patrolman Ryan Higginbotham searched Thompson's garage and found a Taurus .357 revolver handgun hidden in a toolbox. Thompson has a previous felony conviction involving narcotics and is not allowed to own a firearm, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.

Thompson also tested positive for marijuana in a drug field test, and 2 grams of the drug were found hidden in Thompson's garage, according to the complaint.

Charleston Police Patrolman Nigel Waller was also at the scene and was removing various electronic goods from the residence, including a flat-screen TV and an Xbox gaming system.

So far, no charges have been filed against Thompson in connection with the allegedly stolen goods.

The abundance of police cars on the street caused a bit of concern for neighbors, who gathered on their porches to watch the officers.

Jamie Russell, who lives a few houses from Thompson, said she has lived there for three years and never seen so many police cars at one time.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- What may have looked like a major crime scene to Bigley Avenue residents on Tuesday turned out to be nothing more than standard police work as a search warrant was served on a Kanawha County man.

At least three Charleston Police Department cruisers, plus three K-9 patrol units and one South Charleston Police Department cruiser, lined the 1800 block of Bigley Avenue around 1 p.m. on Tuesday to serve a search warrant on Marcus Dewayne Thompson, 31, who lives at 1814 1/2 Bigley Ave.

Patrolman Ryan Higginbotham searched Thompson's garage and found a Taurus .357 revolver handgun hidden in a toolbox. Thompson has a previous felony conviction involving narcotics and is not allowed to own a firearm, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.

Thompson also tested positive for marijuana in a drug field test, and 2 grams of the drug were found hidden in Thompson's garage, according to the complaint.

Charleston Police Patrolman Nigel Waller was also at the scene and was removing various electronic goods from the residence, including a flat-screen TV and an Xbox gaming system.

So far, no charges have been filed against Thompson in connection with the allegedly stolen goods.

The abundance of police cars on the street caused a bit of concern for neighbors, who gathered on their porches to watch the officers.

Jamie Russell, who lives a few houses from Thompson, said she has lived there for three years and never seen so many police cars at one time.

"I mean, I've seen maybe one or two, but nothing like this," she said. "This is the worst thing I've ever seen on my street."

After searching the residence, police called a wrecker service to unlock three cars near Thompson's property. Police searched the vehicles but did not find anything else identified under the search warrant.

K-9 commander Cpl. Charles Young and his dog Bishop did a sweep of the area around one of Thompson's cars to see if they could pick up any more clues while two other K-9 officers observed.

The units had been training earlier in the day when they heard about the search warrant call and decided to head down to the scene and lend a hand. 

Young said that although it wasn't his search warrant, he saw it as an opportunity to help out another officer.

"You get here and things are going on and you just jump right on it and do your job," he said.

Thompson is being charged with felony possession of a firearm and simple possession of marijuana. He was transferred to the South Central Regional Jail, where he is being held on a $10,000 surety bond.

Reach Kathryn Gregory at kathr...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5119.