A traffic stop in Portland ended with a teenage suspect in custody after officers said they found a loaded Micro Draco 7.62mm pistol, a ski mask, and a stash of drugs and cash inside the vehicle.
According to WSMV, Portland police said the vehicle was originally pulled over for a traffic violation. During the stop, officers reported recovering a loaded Micro Draco pistol, two loaded magazines, a ski mask, gloves, roughly $800 in cash, about 20 THC vape pens, and several grams of suspected marijuana.
The teen was taken to the Sumner County Juvenile Detention Center and is being held there until a court appearance later this week, police said.
What Officers Say They Recovered
Portland police described the weapon as a loaded Micro Draco 7.62mm pistol, a compact AK-pattern firearm that uses the 7.62x39 cartridge and accepts standard AK magazines. Technical documentation from the manufacturer describes Micro Draco firearms as AK-style pistols with very short barrels, sold without a stock and regulated differently than typical rifles, according to Century Arms. Investigators noted that finding this type of weapon inside a vehicle makes the stop stand out.
In addition to the gun and magazines, officers reported locating the ski mask, gloves, cash, THC vapes, and suspected marijuana inside the vehicle.
Charges And Legal Stakes
Per WSMV, Portland police said the juvenile was charged with Possession of Schedule VI (Marijuana) for Resale, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony.
The firearm during a dangerous felony count invokes Tennessee Code § 39‑17‑1324, which allows prosecutors to seek enhanced felony penalties and consecutive sentences, depending on the underlying offense and any prior record. Under Tennessee law, possessing or using a firearm during certain listed dangerous felonies is treated as a separate charge on top of the original offense. In this case, police say the teen is also accused of possession of marijuana for resale, which is a Schedule VI offense in the state.
The Portland Police Department emphasized in a statement quoted by WSMV that, “The charges and allegations referenced in this release are accusations of criminal conduct only and do not constitute evidence.”
Part Of A Wider Pattern On Local Roads
Authorities across Middle Tennessee have been seeing more drugs and guns turn up on traffic stops in recent weeks, with officers reporting everything from ski masks and vape pens to altered firearms.
In one Cheatham County case earlier this month, deputies pulled over a vehicle and discovered a modified Glock that was described as fully automatic, along with a large quantity of marijuana. As WKRN reported, law enforcement officials say these kinds of stops can take potentially dangerous weapons off the streets and may head off future violence.
Police in Portland did not release the teen's name or age. The Portland Police Department and the Sumner County Sheriff's Office have not provided additional public details beyond the department statement cited in local coverage. For county detention contact information, the public can consult the Sumner County Sheriff's Office website.
