Suspicious vehicle leads to arrest, weapons seizure

A report of a suspicious vehicle early Tuesday morning resulted in the arrest of a Poplar Bluff man and the seizure of multiple firearms and ammunition.

At about 4:35 a.m., Poplar Bluff Police Patrolman Cody Trout received a “citizen report of a suspicious vehicle parked behind the Valley Plaza Shopping Center, at 749 N Westwood Blvd., while all the businesses were closed,” Police Chief Danny Whiteley said in a press release.

Trout located a Chevrolet passenger vehicle parked behind the businesses with a Black male, identified as Terrell Romell Williams Jr., sitting in the driver’s seat and a white female sitting in the passenger seat, Whiteley said.

Williams

“While contacting both occupants and advising them of the reason for the contact, Patrolman Trout smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and observed a firearm in the passenger floorboard,” Whiteley said.

Both Williams and his passenger were asked to exit the car, Whiteley said.

“During a search of the vehicle, three 9mm handguns, along with seven magazines and approximately 70 rounds of ammunition were located and seized due to Williams being firearms disqualified for prior felony convictions for drugs and weapons offenses,” Whiteley said.

Further investigation revealed one of the handguns had been reported stolen from Butler County, Whiteley said.

After being told of his rights, Williams, 29, admitted the stolen firearm located under the driver’s seat belonged to him.

Williams was arrested on suspicion of stealing a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm.

At the time of his arrest, Williams was on parole, having been released from prison on July 18, 2019.

In October 2017, Williams, according to Casenet, pleaded guilty to the Class C felony of unlawful possession of a firearm and was sentenced to five years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

That sentence was ordered to be served concurrently with an earlier 10-year sentence Williams received on a Class B felony of sale of a controlled substance.

The court ordered the execution of Williams’ previously suspended 10-year sentence in April 2017 after he reportedly violated his probation on the drug offense. Williams’ parole expires on his drug case on July 18, 2026.

Whiteley said federal charges are anticipated through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.

“Thanks to Patrolman Cody Trout and the Poplar Bluff Police Department(’s) Patrol Division for another excellent job putting bad guys in jail and getting guns off the street from people who can’t lawfully possess them,” Whiteley said.