APD: Man arrested after bullets, Bibles and list of Austin companies were found in downtown hotel room

AUSTIN, Texas - A man is facing charges after bullets, Bibles, and a list of major Austin companies were found in a Downtown Austin hotel room Wednesday afternoon--within in sight of the Texas State Capitol.

Austin police arrested 52-year-old Chaeron Lawter for third-degree felony possession of a controlled substance and unlawful carrying of a weapon, a Class A misdemeanor.

An arrest affidavit says officers were called by staff to the Aloft Hotel at 7th Street and Congress Avenue on May 13 just before 4:30 p.m. They were told a guest, later identified as Lawter, was supposed to have checked out but left several concerning items in his room.

The complainant showed officers Lawter's hotel room which had a direct line of sight to the Texas State Capital Building and the collection of items found there, including bullets, a prescription bottle containing more bullets, binoculars, four Bibles, a list of major Austin companies and a Nissan owner's manual, according to the affidavit.

Officers checked in with the valet stand as the complainant told officers it had been checked into the valet the night before, says the affidavit. Lawter then pulled up to the front of the hotel in a gray Nissan. Officers had him exit the vehicle and he told them a firearm was either in the glove box or center console.

According to the affidavit, Lawter has recent mental health history, once involving him possibly firing a pistol, so officers conducted a mental health assessment and determined he qualified for a Peace Officer Emergency Detention for homicidal ideations, and his vehicle was impounded.

A .380 handgun was found in the center console, and a rifle scope, rifle ammunition, and a rifle magazine were also found. Lawter allegedly told officers the rifle was in another car left at a Georgetown auto shop. 

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In addition to those, a small clear plastic baggie of methamphetamine was found in Lawter's backpack in the front passenger seat, says the affidavit. Lawter was placed under arrest for drug possession and unlawful carrying of a weapon. Officers also found another baggie of meth in the coin pouch of his front pants pocket during a search.