CORDELE, Ga. (WALB) — A traffic stop in Cordele early Wednesday morning led to an arrest after officers say they found a stolen handgun equipped with an illegal conversion device.

According to the Cordele Police Department, an officer was patrolling near 16th Avenue and Hickory Street just after 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 16 when they stopped a vehicle after observing what they described as suspicious driving behavior.

Police said the vehicle’s registered owner also had an active warrant.

During the traffic stop, officers reportedly found a Glock 20 Gen 4 equipped with an illegal conversion device, commonly referred to as a “switch,” which is designed to convert a firearm to fully automatic fire.

Police said they ran the firearm’s serial number and confirmed it had been reported stolen out of Ashburn.

Further investigation determined the driver’s license was suspended. Officers also found the driver had an active Wilcox County warrant for probation violation, according to police.

The driver was arrested without incident and faces the following charges:

• Driving While License Suspended
• Theft by Receiving Stolen Property (Felony)
• Unlawful Possession of Firearms or Weapons (Felony)

Cordele Police said the investigation highlights the department’s efforts to address illegal firearms and other criminal activity in the community.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and X. For more south Georgia news, download the WALB News app and add WALB as a preferred source on Google.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.