NCPD Arrests Armed Suspect with Stolen Handgun During Traffic Stop

North Charleston Police Department (NCPD) patrol officers arrested an 18-year-old suspect early Thursday morning after discovering a stolen handgun during a traffic stop.

Around 2:15 a.m., officers were conducting proactive patrols near local hotels when they observed a vehicle with defective tag lights pull out in front of them. A traffic stop was initiated, during which officers detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

Based on probable cause, officers conducted a search of the vehicle and located a handgun wedged between the driver’s seat and the center console. A check through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) revealed that the firearm had been reported stolen from another jurisdiction.

The driver, identified as Cordell Walston-Stone, 18, was taken into custody and charged with receiving stolen goods, operating an uninsured vehicle, and failure to produce a driver’s license. He was transported to the Al Cannon Detention Center.