FRANKLIN

A Franklin man has been charged with brandishing a firearm to employees at the city’s Social Services office.

According to Capt. Tim Whitt, spokesman for the Franklin Police Department, on Tuesday at 3:20 p.m., officers responded to Social Services at 306 N. Main St. in response to a report of a suspicious person. The suspect was gone upon arrival.

Officers learned that a customer had become irate with an employee because he had failed to bring his identification with him in order to obtain an EBT (electronic benefit transfer) card. EBT is a debit card system the Virginia Department of Social Services uses to issue SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. When employees informed the customer that they would need to confirm his identity, he allegedly approached the receptionist’s window, still irate, and intentionally raised his shirt in order to expose a gun.

The suspect received his EBT card after his identity was confirmed, and as he was leaving, he allegedly again turned to the receptionist and exposed the gun in his waist band. After investigating, officers secured warrants on Jeffery Terrell Edwards, 35, of 322 Pearl St., Franklin, for carrying a concealed weapon and brandishing a firearm.

Edwards was arrested at his residence on Wednesday without incident. A search of the residence led to the recovery of a loaded Taurus .40 caliber pistol. Edwards was released on a personal recognizance bond.