An alleged dealer out on bail while awaiting trial in a felony drug case is back behind bars after he was caught last week with suspected crack cocaine and a loaded handgun in Butler, authorities said.

Already a felon, Tony F. Smith Sr., 41, of Lyndora, is prohibited under state law from having any firearms.

Butler Patrolman Cheryl Litz arrested Smith after she got a call about 3:50 p.m. Thursday for suspected drug activity outside a home on North Seventh Street, according to court documents,

The suspect had driven away by the time police got there. But a short time later, Litz stopped him at Randolph and Kendall streets in nearby Lyndora.

In the Dodge Avenger that Smith was driving with a suspended license were three passengers — two that were wanted on warrants.

A subsequent search of the car turned up a plastic bag with clothing. Stashed in the bag also was a .45-caliber pistol, police said.

Smith allegedly admitted the bag was his.

A fully loaded magazine clip was in the pistol and there was a round in the chamber. Three additional loaded clips also were in the bag.

Litz noted that Smith’s criminal record includes “multiple” felony convictions in Ohio. He also has no concealed carry permit.

The suspect was taken to the police station and searched. He had three Suboxone strips in one of his pants pockets, police said.

Smith does not have a prescription for the drug that is commonly prescribed to treat opioid addiction, such as heroin.

Hidden in his sock, Litz said, were five individually wrapped baggies of suspected crack. In all, the crack weighed 3.27 grams.

Police said they also found him with $203 in currency.

Smith was arraigned on felony charges of felons not to possess firearms, carrying a firearm without a permit and possessing with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

He also is charged with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, and a summary charge of driving under suspension.

He was placed in the Butler County Prison on $100,000 bail following arraignment.

State police on Oct. 2 arrested Smith after a traffic stop near Moniteau High School in Cherry Township yielded a half dozen packaged bags of marijuana, investigators said.

They also seized more than $600 and a scale.

Smith was charged with felony and misdemeanor drug possession, and later was released on $30,000 unsecured bail. The case is pending trial.