Traffic stop yields stolen gun, suspected drugs

A recent stop of an SUV for no insurance led to police finding a gun reported stolen from Midland more than a decade ago and suspected narcotics.

Rudolph Payton, 45, of Saginaw, is charged with felony carrying a concealed weapon. He is lodged in the Midland County Jail on a $15,000 cash/surety bond. He is set for a probable cause hearing at 1 p.m. Aug. 20, before Midland County District Court Judge Michael Carpenter.

Midland police stopped a Chevrolet Trailblazer with no insurance about 1:30 a.m. Monday on M-20 near Smith Road.

Midland Police Department Lt. Travis Toth said Payton was driving the vehicle and the passenger was identified as a 44-year-old Southfield man. The passenger was briefly jailed and released uncharged.

While handcuffing Payton, Toth said officers found suspected narcotics on him. A further investigation of the vehicle yielded more suspected narcotics both in the vehicle and on the passenger. That's when they also found the firearm.

The suspected narcotics were sent to the Michigan State Police Crime Lab for testing.

Toth said police are determining who the weapon belonged to.

"It was stolen out of Midland years ago," Toth said.

That's why it is important for gun owners to keep track of the serial numbers on firearms. If a gun owner does fall victim to theft, reporting the theft and having that serial number aids police in determining the ownership and returning their property.

"You never know when we will find them," he said. "This was from over a decade ago off just conducting a routine traffic stop."

Tereasa Nims is a cops and courts reporter with the Midland Daily News. She can be reached at Tereasa.Nims@hearstnp.com