Three area residents were arrested Saturday night during at traffic stop in which suspected illegal narcotics and weapons were found.
At about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Poplar Bluff Police Patrolman Billie Duckett, who has a license plate reader installed in his vehicle, received a "stolen vehicle alert while on routine patrol in the area of south Poplar Bluff," according to a news release.
Duckett stopped a vehicle driven by Oliver James Isaac, in the 500 block of Highway 53. Also reportedly contacted were passengers, Bradley Joseph Carter and Lashawna Deanne Phillips.
"During a search of the vehicle, Duckett, with the assistance of other officers, located two suspected bags of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and three handguns, one of which was stolen and a second which had the serial numbers removed," the release said.
Carter, 17, of Doniphan, Mo., was arrested on suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a defaced firearm and possession of marijuana.
Oliver, 22, of the 2100 block of Spring Street was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia and on a Butler County failure to appear warrant for possession of a controlled substance and a Wayne County warrant for failure to register a motor vehicle.
Phillips, 34, of the 7900 block of Highway C was arrested on suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia, stealing, possession of marijuana, unlawful possession of a firearm and a municipal failure to appear warrant for peace disturbance.
All three were booked at the Butler County jail.
"Proactive police work by the officers (who were) supplied with the necessary equipment once again removed dangerous people from our streets," said police Chief Danny Whiteley, who indicated the license plate reader was purchased thanks to a grant from the Missouri Police Chiefs Association.
Officers, Whiteley said, will be contacting "our federal partners at the ATF and seeking charges through the federal court system for the stolen weapons."