Multiple arrests made in Jefferson County burglary investigation
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
MT. VERNON, Ill., (KBSI) — Mt. Vernon Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a series of residential burglaries that led to multiple arrests and the recovery of stolen property, including firearms.
Police said detectives received information Jan. 2 related to stolen property from a residential burglary reported in early December 2025 in Jefferson County. Detectives worked overnight and obtained a search warrant for a residence in Belle Rive.
In the early morning hours of Jan. 3, officers from the Mt. Vernon Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office High Risk Team executed the warrant. During the search, David K. Porter, 24, of Belle Rive, was found in possession of multiple stolen items, including firearms. Investigators said one firearm had a defaced serial number and another was confirmed stolen from the earlier burglary.
Porter was charged with residential burglary, unlawful possession of a firearm by a repeat felony offender, possession of a stolen firearm and defacing identification marks on a firearm. Police said a parole warrant had also been issued earlier in the week by the Illinois Department of Corrections.
As the investigation continued, detectives developed additional persons of interest. In the early morning hours of Jan. 7, the joint high-risk team executed three additional search warrants in the Mt. Vernon and Jefferson County area.
The first warrant was served in the 1700 block of Harlan Road, where a juvenile was taken into custody on an unrelated warrant. Firearms ammunition was found inside the residence. Riley M. Scott, 22, of Mt. Vernon, was arrested and charged with obstructing justice. Police said Scott was later released under the SAFE-T Act.
The second warrant was executed in the 1000 block of Abbott Lane in southeastern Jefferson County. Investigators recovered items related to the burglary investigation. Ray C. Garrison, 20, of Belle Rive, was taken into custody and charged with defacing identification marks on a firearm, armed violence, possession of methamphetamine and possession of a stolen firearm.
The third warrant was served in the 300 block of Gum Street in Belle Rive. Gavin A. Bradford, 18, of Belle Rive, was arrested and charged with obstructing justice and residential burglary.
Authorities said additional stolen property was recovered as a result of the search warrants, and the joint investigation remains ongoing. All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
