Two men accused of stealing car in Mississippi arrested in Scott County

BENTON, Mo. -- A routine traffic stop by a Scott County sheriff's deputy led to the arrest of two men wanted for a home invasion and stealing a car.

Jordan L. Smith, 21, of Jackson Miss., is charged with tampering with a motor vehicle. He is being held in the Scott County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bond.

Also charged with tampering with a motor vehicle as well as driving with a suspended license is Cedric L. Lawson, 21, of Jackson, Miss. His bond is set at $20,000 and he remains in jail.

Lawson is now due in Scott County Associate Court before Judge Scott T. Horman at 10:30 a.m. March 1. No further information was available regarding Smith's court appearances.

Deputy Darrin Sides was on patrol near Miner when he observed a vehicle stopped at a green traffic light. Sides conducted a traffic stop to further investigate, according to Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter.

During the stop, it was determined the vehicle was reported stolen from Jackson, Miss. "During a search of the vehicle, two loaded semi-automatic handguns, within easy reach of the driver and passenger were located," Walter said in a news release.

Further investigation revealed both men were wanted by authorities in Jackson, Miss., for an armed home invasion incident where the victim's car was stolen.

Walter commended Sides for the arrests. He said his office worked with Mississippi authorities over the weekend regarding their investigation.

Mississippi is seeking to extradite the men to face charges there.