MT. VERNON — Mt. Vernon police arrested two men over the weekend on weapons charges, with one of the men being charged in Jefferson County court Monday with being an armed habitual criminal.

According to MVPD, around 2:18 a.m. Saturday morning, an officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 2000 block of Broadway.

During the traffic stop, the officer determined the driver of the vehicle, 24-year-old Damondrae S James, was under the influence of alcohol.

James was arrested for alleged driving under the influence. Following the arrest, a loaded, defaced handgun was located in the vehicle.

At the time of his arrest, James was on parole from the Illinois Department of Corrections. He had been incarcerated for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The Illinois Department of Corrections was contacted and issued a parole violation warrant.

James was charged with DUI, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a defaced firearm, armed habitual offender, the IDOC warrant, and several traffic charges. James was taken to the Jefferson County Jail where he is held with bail set at $150,000.

He was charged Monday with Class X felony being an armed habitual criminal and Class 2 felony being a felon in possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.

Then around 4:21 a.m. Sunday, Mt Vernon Police officers responded to the 2800 block of Lime after a citizen reported suspicious persons in the area.

Officers contacted two subjects in the area. While interviewing the two, an officer observed one of them, 21-year-old Jordan T Devine, had a handgun in his waistband.

Devine began to flee on foot and officers initiated a foot pursuit of him. The foot pursuit continued through several backyards and over fences.

During the foot pursuit, an officer got his foot caught in a section of chain link and sustained an injury. A second officer was able to take Devine into custody and secure the defaced handgun and ammunition.

Devine was taken to the Jefferson County Jail for alleged possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a defaced firearm, and resisting arrest/causing injury to an officer.

He was formally charged in court Monday with Class 2 felony being a felon in possession of a firearm with a prior conviction and Class 4 felony resisting a peace officer.

The officer was transported to a local hospital where he was treated and released. He will be off work for an unknown period of time.