WEST CITY – A traffic stop Sunday in West City ended up with a West Frankfort man being arrested by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office on several charges.
According to Chief Deputy Kyle Bacon, when a Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy stopped 45-year-old William L. Smith on his motorcycle on Illinois 14, the deputy found that Smith had a suspended driver’s license. Smith was also wanted on arrest warrants from a number of states including Franklin County, IL.
During the arrest, Smith resisted arrest and as a result engaged in a physical struggle with the deputy and an assisting West City Police officer. Subsequent to the arrest, Smith was found to be in possession of a loaded firearm.
Smith is currently being held in the Franklin County Jail on charges of Driving with a Suspended License, Resisting/Obstructing a Peace Officer, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon (Firearm) and Bringing/Possessing Contraband in a Penal Institution.