LA PORTE COUNTY, Ind. – The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office arrested 27-year-old Zackery Padgett of La Porte on Friday for possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.

Around 10:56 a.m. Friday morning, a deputy noticed that Padgett was speeding while driving westbound on US 20.

The deputy then got behind Padgett’s vehicle, at which point Padgett suddenly braked and turned right onto CR 300 East.

The deputy then initiated a traffic stop. As the traffic stop was in progress, a loaded handgun was located within the passenger compartment and another one was found in another area of the vehicle, according to deputies.

Padgett was subsequently arrested and transported to the La Porte County Jail.

He was booked into jail for the offense of possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a Level 4 felony.