Mount Vernon man arrested after search warrant leads to recovery of stolen firearm, narcotics

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

MOUNT VERNON, Ill., (KBSI) — A Mount Vernon man faces multiple felony charges after authorities executed a search warrant Tuesday and recovered narcotics and a stolen firearm.

According to the Mount Vernon Police Department, officers and members of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office High Risk Team served a weapons search warrant June 9 in the 700 block of South 19th Street. The warrant stemmed from investigations into a reported battery and threats involving a firearm.

During the search, authorities recovered suspected narcotics and a stolen firearm.

Nikko Branch, 35, of Mount Vernon, was taken into custody without incident. He is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a repeat felony offender, possession of a stolen firearm, possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, aggravated domestic battery, aggravated unlawful restraint, interference with the reporting of domestic violence and theft.

Branch was lodged in the Jefferson County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Police said the investigation involved several days of efforts by patrol officers and detectives to locate Branch.

Branch is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.