On Monday, a deputy with the Rankin County Sheriff’s Interstate Interdiction Unit attempted to made a traffic stop on a blue Nissan passenger car with a Florida tag for a traffic violation on U.S. Highway 49 south of Star.

When the deputy activated his emergency lights, the driver of the Nissan immediately accelerated and attempted to elude the deputy. The deputy radioed for assistance and several Rankin County Law Enforcement Officers began responding to assist.

When deputies approached the City of Florence, officers from the Florence Police Department successfully deployed stop sticks, deflating the tires of the suspect vehicle. The suspect immediately began to slow down and eventually lost control of the vehicle and drove into a construction area where the vehicle stopped near the intersection of U.S. 49 and Hwy. 469.

During a search of the vehicle and area by the vehicle, deputies located a 9mm pistol which appears to have been illegally converted to fully automatic. Deputies also located several high capacity magazines for the weapon along with two ski masks.

The driver of the vehicle, Christian J. Aponte, was transported to the Rankin County Adult Detention Center and booked on the charges of felony fleeing and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon”.

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett will bring Christian J. Aponte before Rankin County Court Judge David Morrow for an initial appearance.