MARION – A stolen vehicle investigation in Williamson County has led to the arrest of a Herrin man.

According to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, deputies conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle registration violation Wednesday. During the traffic stop, it was discovered that the stolen vehicle was out of Carbondale.  

The driver was arrested and a subsequent inventory of the vehicle located a Smith & Wesson M&P .380 caliber handgun located underneath a false bottom in the center console.

Deputies took Norvel A. Avant into custody without incident and booked him into the Williamson County Jail. Avant was cited for Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Improper Use of Evidence of Registration and Operating an Uninsured Vehicle. The vehicle was recovered.

The sheriff’s office thanks the Carbondale Police Department and Williamson County State’s Attorney Ted Hampson for their assistance.