Man With PFA Lied on Gun Application, Police Say

An Allentown man was charged with a felony firearms offense after he allegedly lied on an application to buy a handgun at a Bethlehem store, according to court records.

Edward Rodriguez-Flores, 24, of 246 E. Court St., answered “no” when he was asked on the purchase application if he had been the subject of a restraining order or a protection from abuse order, police said.

Rodriguez-Flores was trying to buy a .40-caliber handgun from the C&D Coin and Gun Shop at 213 E. Broad St. on June 19 when he filled out the gun purchase application, police said.

But the Pennsylvania Instant Check System, which gun dealers can access by calling a toll-free telephone number, flagged Rodriguez-Flores and the gun sale was denied, police said.

The background check revealed that Rodriguez-Flores had been involved in two domestic disputes with a woman on June 8, police said. Three days later, the woman obtained a temporary protection from abuse order against Rodriguez-Flores, police said.

The temporary PFA was in effect on the day Rodriguez-Flores tried to buy the gun. A permanent PFA was issued on June 24, police said.

Rodriguez-Flores was charged with a third-degree felony for “knowingly and intentionally” making a “materially false” written statement on a gun purchase application. He was also charged with making an “unsworn falsification to authorities,” a second-degree misdemeanor.

He was arraigned Tuesday before on-duty District Judge Joseph Barner of Lower Nazareth Township and released on $5,000 unsecured bail.