JONES COUNTY – A traffic stop involving an allegedly impaired driver led authorities to seize several modified firearms and suspected machine gun conversion devices in Jones County, officials said.
Ellisville police stopped a passenger vehicle for careless driving about 9:39 p.m. Sunday on Hill Street.
Police said the driver, identified as 22-year-old Katelyn Maxwell, was nude and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. Officers also reported smelling marijuana, prompting a search of the vehicle.
The search uncovered marijuana, several modified firearms and devices suspected of being capable of converting firearms to fully automatic operation, authorities said.
Maxwell was arrested on charges of driving under the influence with refusal, possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle while possessing a firearm, careless driving and failure to wear a seat belt. The Jones County Sheriff’s Department later charged her with possession of a modified weapon.
Ellisville police contacted Jones County sheriff’s narcotics agent Cpl. Dalton Ainsworth, who examined the firearms and believed several had been converted into fully automatic weapons, according to the sheriff’s department.
Investigators determined the vehicle belonged to Maxwell’s boyfriend, 24-year-old Shon Cooley, who lived on Northeast Drive in the Powers community.
Sheriff’s deputies later executed a search warrant at the residence because of concerns about the suspected conversion devices. Authorities said the search uncovered additional modified firearms and parts that could be used to alter other weapons.
Cooley was taken into custody and charged with unauthorized manufacture, possession or use of a machine gun conversion device.
The residence is near East Jones Elementary School, prompting investigators to consult a local gunsmith who also serves as a sheriff’s reserve deputy and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Authorities determined they had seized several illegal firearms, according to the sheriff’s department.
“This was a fantastic traffic stop by Ellisville Police Department’s patrol officers which got several illegal firearms and an impaired driver off the streets,” Jones County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Sgt. Chase Smith said.
Smith also praised the cooperation between the Ellisville Police Department and the sheriff’s department.
Maxwell and Cooley were being held at the Jones County Adult Detention Facility pending initial appearances in Jones County Justice Court.
The charges are allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.