MT. VERNON – Mt. Vernon Police took multiple illegal firearms off the street over the weekend after a surveillance operation led them to a Willow Springs apartment.

According to MVPD, members of the Mt Vernon Police Department/Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Unit were conducting surveillance on an apartment located at 4104 Willow Springs.

The surveillance was part of on-going investigations by the unit involving illegal firearms usage and possession in Mt. Vernon.

During the surveillance, detectives and patrol officers saw a vehicle leaving the apartment and developed probable cause to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle. The vehicle refused to stop for the officers and attempted to flee.

After a short distance, the three occupants left the vehicle and began to flee on foot. Officers initiated foot pursuits of the subjects and were able to take all three into custody.

One of the subjects, a 17-year old male, was found to be in possession of a loaded, stolen handgun.

The juvenile was taken into custody on charges of Armed Violence, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Possession of a Firearm Under the Age of 18, Resisting Arrest, and Aggravated Fleeing. He was processed at the police department and detained in the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center.

Due to his age no information will be released. The other two occupants were charged with misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest.

Based on information obtained during the investigation, detectives were able to secure a search warrant for the apartment at 4104 Willow Springs.

During a search of the apartment, another illegal firearm – a rifle – was located inside. Charges related to the search warrant are pending.

The detective division will continue to aggressively pursue those committing weapons related offenses in the city.