A traffic stop for running a red light led to the arrest of a man wanted in Chatham County and took a gun off the streets.

Shortly before 7:30 a.m. Feb. 6, Covington Police Department (CPD) Officer Matt Cooper reported seeing a vehicle containing two people traveling eastbound on Washington Street run a red light. According to his report, Cooper stopped the vehicle and checked the identification of the driver and the passenger.

The passenger, Quantavius Smith, reportedly had an active warrant out of Chatham County. According to his report, Cooper asked Smith to step out of the vehicle and advised him of the warrant. When Cooper asked if he had any weapons or anything illegal on him, Smith reportedly raised his hands and said that he had a pistol in the right leg of his pants.

Cooper placed Smith in handcuffs and retrieved the weapon, a loaded 9mm handgun. After reading Smith his Miranda Rights and placing him in his patrol car, Cooper issued the driver a citation for the red light violation. A check of Smith’s criminal history reportedly indicated that he was a convicted felon. He was transported to the Newton County Law Enforcement Center on a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to the report, The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office placed a hold on Smith and will be extraditing him there.