Stolen gun recovered; East Prairie man arrested

EAST PRAIRIE - A stolen loaded gun was recovered and an East Prairie man arrested in connection with the theft.

At approximately 12:50 p.m. Friday, an East Prairie police officer responded to a report of a stolen firearm. The firearm, a Cobra .380, was reported loaded at the time of the theft, according to a news release.

Following an investigation, James Brice Owens, 38 was taken into custody and the firearm was recovered.

Owens, who is charged with theft of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm, is currently being held at the Mississippi County Detention Center on a $50,000 bond.

"When a firearm is stolen, our priority is to locate it, to not only recover for the victim but to keep that firearm off the streets and away from any children that could end tragically," stated Chief Danny Lafferty.

Assisting the Department in the investigation was the Mississippi County Sheriff's Department.