Kewanee police have arrested three people on gun charges over the past week. Two of them also face drug charges.
According to a news release issued Monday by the police department:
— On Friday, police conducted a traffic stop near the 300 block of Tenney Street. A red Ford F-150 pickup was observed traveling westbound on East McClure Street, noted to be traveling left of the center line and exceeding the posted speed limit of 30 miles per hour.
Officers caught up to the vehicle at the intersection of East McClure and Tenney streets, where the pickup failed to turn into the correct lane and continued northbound in the turn lane.
Following the traffic stop, officers approached the vehicle and identified the driver as Shawn S. Swearingen, 57, of Kewanee. During the interaction, a small bag of cannabis was discovered in Shawn’s possession, which was not properly packaged as required by law.
Officers also found two firearms — a nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol and a .22 caliber revolver. Ammunition, a loaded magazine pistol and drug paraphernalia were also located inside the vehicle. The nine-millimeter pistol was found to have a live round in the chamber.
Swearingen was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of firearms/ammo, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful uses of weapons, possession of adult use cannabis in a motor vehicle, operation of an uninsured vehicle and driving in the wrong lane.
He was taken to the Henry County Jail to await formal charges by the Henry County State Attorney’s office.
— Last Wednesday afternoon, officers were dispatched to 619 Shadycrest Dr. to assist Illinois Department of Corrections agents who were conducting a parole check on William P. Merritt, 43, of Kewanee. Five rifles and a significant amount of ammunition were found in his bedroom, according to the news release. The rifles and ammunition were transferred into the custody of the Kewanee Police Department so that an investigation could be started.
Upon completion of that investigation, Merritt was charged with four counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, a Class 3 felony punishable by two to five years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000.
Merritt was in the Henry County Jail and was to appear in court Monday.
— On Feb. 17, police responded to a domestic disturbance call at 416 E. Seventh St., where they encountered a reported altercation involving a 16-year-old juvenile, his girlfriend, and his mother.
Officers assessed the situation, finding signs of physical altercation including property damage. The juvenile was subsequently arrested for domestic battery, and a search warrant executed at the residence uncovered a Mossberg 590 12-gauge shotgun, various types of ammunition, and cannabis.
The juvenile was transferred to the Mary Davis Home in Galesburg, where he was preliminarily charged with unlawful possession of firearms/ammo, possession of cannabis and domestic battery.
