Police Recover Stolen Gun During Traffic Stop

ADAIRSVILLE, GA — A routine traffic stop conducted late last week in Adairsville led to police recovering a firearm reported stolen from a northwest Georgia county.

An officer with the agency conducted the traffic stop around 8:40 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14 on a driver operating a vehicle without its headlights.

The officer immediately noticed the driver and passenger were "extremely nervous," and he detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, according to an Adairsville Police Department press release.

A backup officer arrived, and the vehicle was searched. Marijuana and a Hi-Point pistol were recovered during the search. Police learned the firearm was reported stolen from Walker County.

Adairsville residents Larry Edward Kirby, 19, and 31-year-old Steven Deale Hensley were arrested and booked into the Bartow County Jail. Both men were charged with one count each of possession of marijuana less than an ounce. Hensley was also charged with theft by receiving stolen property, and Kirby was charged with headlight requirements.

Jail records show both men have bonded out of the facility.

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