MOUNT VERNON — A 27-year-old Mt. Vernon man has been charged in Jefferson County Court with drug and weapons offenses, including being an armed habitual offender – a Class X felony.

According to Mt. Vernon Police Chief Trent Page, just before 2 p.m. Tuesday, members of the Mt Vernon Police Department / Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Unit responded to 4147 Willow Springs to serve a Jefferson County search warrant on the residence.

During an investigation, a confidential source of the narcotics unit reportedly purchased fentanyl on three separate occasions from Gerrodo D Forest a resident of the Willow Springs home.

Upon their arrival, detectives reportedly located Forest in a common area of the apartment complex and were able to take him into custody.

During a search of Forest, detectives say they located a loaded handgun in his pants pocket. It was further observed the serial number had been removed from the firearm.

At the time of this arrest, Forest was on parole from the Illinois Department of Corrections on a previous conviction for Attempted Home Invasion with a Firearm.

Forest was transported to the Jefferson Jail on charges of Armed Violence, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Possession of a Defaced Firearm, and three counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance (fentanyl).

As a result of this arrest, the Illinois Department of Corrections issued a parole violation warrant.