MT. VENRON, IL — Two men were arrested over the weekend on drug and weapons charges after a traffic stop in Mt. Vernon led to the alleged discovery of a sawed off shotgun and a quantity of methamphetamine in the vehicle. According to Mt. Vernon Police Chief Trent Page, officers stopped a vehicle around 8:46 Saturday morning when the backup officer reportedly spotted what appeared to be an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.

The occupants were subsequently removed from the vehicle and during their inspection officers reportedly located a sawed off shotgun, ammunition, methamphetamine, drug equipment and currency. The driver of the vehicle, 20-year-old Jonathan Wallace, of Wayne City, was taken into custody for alleged possession of a firearm without a FOID card and possession of ammunition without a FOID card. The passenger, 35-year-old Jeffery Murray, of Mt. Vernon, was arrested on charges of possession of meth with the intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug equipment. Both men were taken to the Jefferson County Jail where they remain.

Wallace was formally charged Monday in Jefferson County Court with two Class 3 felonies for possession of a sawed off shotgun and possession of a firearm without a FOID card. Murray was formally charged Monday with Class 2 felony delivery of less than 5 grams of meth.

Bail was set at $50,000 for each man and they are both scheduled for January 13th preliminary hearings and first appearances with their court appointed attorneys.