MT. VERNON (WRXX) – Mt. Vernon Police arrested several juveniles Monday in connection with an increase in weapons violations in the last month.
According to police, around 9 a.m. Monday, a detective from the Mt. Vernon Police Department/Jefferson County Sheriff’s Officer Narcotics Unit observed a 15-year-old male walking in the area of 8th and Casey.
The juvenile was wanted in connection with an ongoing investigation and was taken into custody and transported to the Mt. Vernon Police Department on charges of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Possession with Intent to Deliver 30-500 grams of Cannabis, Possession of a Handgun under 18 Years of Age and Possession of Ammunition with No Foid Card. The juvenile was transported to the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Facility and detained.
Then around 4:23 Monday afternoon, a detective with the narcotics unit saw two subjects walking in the 1100 block of South 42nd.
The detective recognized one of the subjects, a 16-year-old male, and knew him to be wanted on an Illinois Department of Corrections warrant for Parole Violation.
The two subjects entered the Culver’s Restaurant where detectives attempted to make contact with them. Both subjects began to flee from officers and detectives but were taken into custody.
The 16-year-old was found to be in possession of a loaded handgun and illegal narcotics.
In addition to the IDOC parole violation warrant, he is charged with Armed Violence, Unlawful Possession of a Handgun by a Person under 18 years of age, Possession of Ammunition without a FOID Card, and Resisting Arrest.
The 16-year-old was processed at the Mt. Vernon Police Department and detained in the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Facility pending transport back to the Department of Corrections.
The second person, who ran, is a 13-year-old male who reportedly discarded a firearm while being chased by officers.
He was also taken into custody on charges of Armed Violence, Unlawful Possession of a Handgun by a Person Under 18 years of Age, Aggravated Resisting Arrest/Injury to Officer, and Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon.
He was also processed at the Mt. Vernon Police Department and detained at the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Facility.
All four of these individuals are associates and suspected to be working together in criminal offenses.
All are considered innocent until proven guilty in court.
A search warrant earlier this month at a home on Oakland Street in Mt. Vernon resulted in the arrest of a 17-year-old male and the seizure of five illegal firearms and narcotics in connection with Monday’s arrests.
This is an ongoing investigation with additional arrests expected.