NATCHEZ — A Natchez man faces drug charges after Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies said a Thursday night search of his car and residence turned up 7 ounces of “high grade” marijuana and several weapons.

Christopher Kevon Spencer, 27, of Natchez faces possession of a schedule I drug with intent to distribute while inside a church zone and while in possession of weapons, possession of a schedule II drug and possession of drug paraphernalia, said Travis Patten Adams County Sheriff.

Patten said the Adams County Special Operations Group was patrolling the area of West Stiers Lane on Thursday night when they noticed someone sitting in a car in a parking lot of a closed business fewer than 100 yards from Mount Nebo Church on West Stiers Lane.

“When deputies made contact with the driver, Christopher Spencer,” Patten said, “they immediately detected the odor of marijuana inside the vehicle and observed an assault rifle, Drako 9mm rifle, on the passenger side front seat partially covered by a shirt.”

Patten said Spencer told deputies he had been smoking marijuana in the vehicle.

“A search of the vehicle revealed another weapon on the back seat,” Patten said, “a Freedom 9mm (short-barrel) rifle with a loaded 50-round magazine. Deputies found several bags of marijuana in an ammunition box on the ground next to the driver’s side door and a blunt in the vehicle.”

Patten said deputies determined that Spencer’s mother lived directly behind where Spencer’s car had been parked and found two bags of marijuana on the front porch.

“In Spencer’s bedroom,” Patten said, deputies found “a loaded Velocity 9mm Tech 9 pistol, 13 bags of marijuana, 2 Percocet pills, digital scales and currency ….”

Patten said he has received numerous calls from citizens in the area complaining about activities taking place around the area.

“Where deputies made contact with Spencer is less than 50 yards from where they recovered a Mini Drako 7.62 mm assault rifle from an abandoned house on Dec. 18, just after the Murder of Don Owens,” Patten said. “Deputies then went back the next day and recovered a SKS rifle, a Del-ton Inc AR-15 rifle, and a stolen Smith and Wesson AR-15 that was stolen from Sports Center just a little further in the woods from the abandon house.”

Patten said he has instructed his Special Operations Group to continue patrolling the area and making arrests of people who are involved in crimes.