NATCHEZ — Deputies withthe Adams County Sheriff’s Office and the Special Operations Group arrested three people Saturday evening on drug and weapons charges, officials said.

Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten said a caller reported shots being fired from a black truck in the area of State Park Road on Saturday evening.

Deputies stopped a vehicle matching the caller’s description on U.S. 61 near the Natchez Trace Parkway, Patten said.

When deputies talked with the driver and owner of the vehicle, Terry Herrington Jr., 27, deputies said they smelled marijuana and saw what they believed was a small amount of marijuana in plain view, officials said.

Deputies asked Herrington to exit the vehicle and then spoke to the passenger, Herrington’s mother, officials said.

While talking to the passenger, a deputy said he noticed an assault rifle on the floor and the handgrip of a handgun by the driver’s seat.

During a search of the vehicle deputies said they recovered and seized approximately 50 grams of marijuana, 30 ecstasy tablets, a Taurus .380 pistol and $2,368.00 in cash located in a backpack. Officials said they also found a loaded Drako 7.62mm assault rifle, loaded Ruger 9-mmpistol, loaded Cobra 9-mmpistol, and a Smith & Wesson .40-caliberpistol in the cab of the truck.

While Herrington was being arrested, officials said they found an additional $4,453 in his possession.

Herrington faces charges of possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver and possession of ecstasy with intent to deliver and he transported to the Adams County Jail.

Meanwhile, deputies also answered another call on Saturday regarding a suspicious vehicle behind Kaiser’s Heavy Duty Parts Inc. on U.S. 61 South, officials said.

Deputies said they found William McGraw, 43, and Nicholas Felter, 35, in Kaiser’s heavy equipment yard.

Deputies said they discovered approximately one gram of methamphetamine on Felter and believed that Felter and McGraw were scouting the area for parts and batteries to steal, officials said.

Both Felter and McGraw face charges of possession of methamphetamine and criminal trespassing and were transported to the Adams County Jail.

Patten said he is proud of his deputies and the Special Operations Group who have been working extra shifts during the holiday season to supplement the manpower on the streets in order to prevent crimes.

“These guys did an outstanding job,” Patten said, referring to the deputies who stopped Herrington. “Usually when we get a call about shots being fired, it’s difficult to locate a vehicle, weapon or suspect, and they did all of that.”

Patten said having the extra deputies on duty made all of these arrests possible.

“Who knows what crimes may have happened if these three individuals had not been arrested,” Patten said, adding thanks to the citizens who saw these individuals and called the sheriff’s office.

“If it were not for them calling, we do not know if any of these people would have come in contact with law enforcement,” Patten said.