Philadelphia man arrested in AK-47 case faces bail hearing

Jermal Michael Ponds, the man arrested for allegedly taking an AK-47, other weapons, and drugs onto the Broad Street Line, remained in jail pending a bail hearing Friday.

His possibility of gaining bail was temporarily denied in Thursday court action.

Philadelphia police investigators said it was likely Ponds was just carrying the weapons - including an assault rifle, a handgun, and a knife - and did not intend to use them. The rifle was identified in the police report as an AK-47.

Ponds, 28, was arrested by SEPTA police Tuesday evening after a woman reported seeing a man with a gun on the rush-hour train.

The train was halted at the Fairmount station, where officers said they found Ponds with a black bag containing the partly disassembled assault weapon, a loaded .38-caliber revolver, a 12-inch knife, prescription painkillers, and more than an ounce of marijuana, according to SEPTA.

SEPTA spokeswoman Jerri Williams said the tipster's identity was not known. "We'd love to be able to thank her in person," she said.

Ponds is scheduled to appear Aug. 17 for a preliminary hearing on weapons charges.

Last year, Ponds was arrested after alleged domestic violence, but the charges were dropped after a witness failed to appear, according to court records.

In that case, Ponds' ex-girlfriend told police Ponds had come to her apartment with a gun, fired three shots at her, chased her, and beat her, the records say.