A weekend traffic stop in North Charleston led to the arrest of a man found with a stolen firearm. The incident took place early Saturday morning near the intersection of Rivers Avenue and Aviation Avenue, according to the North Charleston Police Department.
Traffic Stop Leads to Gun Discovery
An officer pulled over a vehicle for a routine check when they noticed the smell of marijuana coming from inside. This gave the officer legal grounds to search the car.
During the search, police discovered a pistol that had been reported stolen back in 2019. It was confirmed that the firearm had been listed in their system for several years.
Suspect Identified as Convicted Felon
The suspect, 38-year-old Tony Smalls, was identified during the stop. A background check revealed that Smalls is a convicted felon, which means he is legally not allowed to own or carry a firearm.
Smalls was taken into custody on the spot and faces the following charges:
Possession of a stolen pistol
Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
Where the Case Stands Now
After his arrest, Smalls was booked into the Al Cannon Detention Center. There is no word yet on when he will appear in court or if bond has been set.
This incident serves as a reminder of how routine traffic stops can sometimes lead to larger discoveries, including illegal firearms and criminal activity.
