How a traffic stop uncovered a Lee County man’s gun stolen 8 years ago

LEE COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) — A routine traffic stop in North Georgia led police to a firearm stolen from a Lee County man eight years earlier.The Smith Wesson .40-caliber pistol belonged to Gary Clark, a former Lee County resident whose vehicle was broken into in July 2018. Canton police recovered the firearm during an Aug. 14 traffic stop in Cherokee County after a serial number check linked it to the original theft report.“Firearms taken in entering autos is the biggest way that guns get on the streets to people who do not need to be in possession of them,” Lee County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Eddie Burgess said.How police uncovered the stolen firearmAccording to a Canton Police Department incident report, an officer stopped a driver for driving without a license plate, and failure to provide insurance.While waiting for a tow truck to impound the vehicle, the officer retrieved a handgun from the center console. A serial number check revealed the firearm had been stolen from Lee Cou