WALTONVILLE, IL — Two people remain in the Jefferson County Jail following their arrests Wednesday in the Waltonville area on drug and weapons charges.

According to the Mt. Vernon Police Department, the Mt Vernon Police Department / Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department Joint Narcotics Unit received information regarding a suspicious vehicle in the Waltonville area. Around 7 a.m. Wednesday, the detective initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle at Illinois 148 and Casper Road. Another Mt Vernon Police Department Detective and deputies from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department responded to assist. During the traffic stop, a handgun and illegal drugs were observed inside the vehicle. Detectives initiated a search of the vehicle resulting in the seizure of methamphetamine, drug equipment, controlled substances and twelve firearms. One of the firearms seized, a handgun, was determined to be stolen from Marion County. A second firearm, an AR15 rifle, had the serial numbers scratched off.

As a result of this traffic stop, 33-year-old Pinckneyville resident Daniel J Harriss was taken into custody on charges of Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, and Possession of a Defaced Firearm. Also, 30-year-old Coulterville resident Brittany A Sloan was taken into custody on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Mt Vernon Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department Detectives continued the investigation resulting in two additional stolen firearms being recovered. Both of those firearms were reported stolen in Clinton County, Missouri.

Both Harriss and Sloan await the formal filing of charges and the setting of bail.