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Man jailed after traffic stop turns up firearm
By Justin Goble
 A man was arrested and faces multiple charges after being caught with a stolen firearm during a traffic stop Jan. 20.
Deputy Andy Parker of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office was patrolling N.C. 107 near Glenville when he observed a vehicle traveling north at a high rate of speed, said Lt. Shannon Queen.
Parker clocked the vehicle at 88 mph in a 45 mph zone, Queen said. As the vehicle approached, Parker noticed an activated red light on the dash, according to Queen.
After determining there was no emergency call at that time, Parker chased the vehicle and stopped it on Pine Creek Road.
The driver, William Pell Hodges, Sr., had been drinking, but was not legally drunk, Queen said.
Upon checking, Parker determined Hodges’ had a suspended license and that the vehicle had an improper tag, Queen said.
After placing Hodges under arrest, Parker searched the vehicle and found a concealed, loaded handgun.
Hodges was taken to the Jackson County Detention Center, where he remains in lieu of a $15,000 bond, Queen said.
The following day, Deputy Kenneth Woodring responded to a report of a breaking-and-entering of a vehicle at Mica’s Restaurant.
The vehicle belonged to Samuel Jennings, who told officers a gun had been stolen from his car the night before, Queen said. The stolen firearm turned out to be the one found in Hodges’ possession during the traffic stop the night before, Queen said.
Hodges faces charges of unlawful use of a red light, possession of a firearm by a felon, reckless driving, driving while license revoked, possession of a stolen firearm, larceny of a firearm, breaking and entering a motor vehicle, and speeding 88 mph in a 45 mph zone.
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