Two men are behind bars on weapons charges after a traffic stop over the weekend in Richland.
On December 29, a member of the Richland Police Department FLEX Unit initiated a traffic stop on Highway 49 for a traffic violation. As the officer approached the vehicle, he noticed the driver moving a lot in the drivers seat and then noticed the driver try to hide something behind the seat.
Once the officer made contact with the driver, there was a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Also, while speaking with the driver, the 16yr old male juvenile in the passenger seat, had an AR15 pistol, in between his legs, with an extended magazine loaded with approximately 45 rounds. The driver told the officer that he was smoking a marijuana blunt while traveling back to Richland from Jackson, where he had just purchased the marijuana.
The officer had both occupants exit the vehicle and while the officer was searching the car, the driver attempted to get back into the car, reaching in the rear floorboard to grab another gun. The officer was able to get the driver out of the car and detain him. The officer then located the other gun, a Glock 19x 9mm with an illegal device installed on the pistol that makes the weapon fully automatic. These devices are also known as a “switch” and they are being used more and more in violent crimes around the metro area.
Whenever the officer located the fully automatic pistol, he noticed that the weapon was jammed, as if someone had attempted to shoot it but it malfunctioned. Also in the vehicle, the officer located narcotics and a credit card scanner, used for stealing individuals financial information.
The driver, 22-year-old James Willie Stevens, was arrested for multiple charges including:
- Possession of a controlled substance enhanced with a firearm
- Possession of credit card reproduction equipment
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- And other traffic related offenses.
Throughout the investigation, the officer contacted an ATF agent who greatly assisted with the investigation. A search warrant was later executed at a local apartment complex inside the City of Richland. Inside the apartment, officers located another Glock 10mm handgun that had another “switch” installed, which made that weapon fully automatic as well. Officers also located another AR15 pistol with a drum style magazine which holds nearly 100 rounds of ammunition, and more narcotics was located inside the apartment as well. One suspect from the apartment was arrested, who is identified as 19 year old, Jermaine Demontae Mckinzie, and charged with Possession of a controlled substance enhanced with a firearm.
There is no state charge for the devices that makes the weapons fully automatic but there is a Federal charge so this case will be turned over to the ATF for prosecution. Federal Firearm Law: Unlawful Possession of a Machine Gun or Devices 18 U.S.C. 922 (o) makes it unlawful to possess or transfer a machine gun. Punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.
