By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News
A routine traffic stop in Pontiac Friday turned into arrests for four Peoria men.
According to Pontiac Police Chief Jim Woolford, Walter Bradford, Tresean Morey, Montelle Bradley and Jacorey Shettleworth, were all arrested on various charges after failing to signal while making a right turn onto Interstate 55.
During the stop, officers discovered their vehicle was a rental from Enterprise and after Bradford, who was the driver, gave a false ID. No people on the rental contract were in the vehicle. Officers called Enterprise and they advised officers to take possession of the vehicle. Bradford originally refused to turn over the keys to police, but when they did, officers conducted a search of the vehicle.
Woolford said that’s where information was found resulting in the majority of the charges.
“The officers were finally able to enter the vehicle while preparing it for tow. While conducting an inventory search, the officers located a loaded 40-caliber handgun on the floor board. None of the four occupants of the vehicle would claim ownership of that handgun and all four were arrested for possession of it due to its proximity to them all,” Woolford said.
The four were formally charged Monday afternoon and are being held on between $25,000 and $100,000 with 10% to be posted for release.
