Katelyn Maxwell Charged After Naked Mississippi Traffic Stop

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Summary

A late-night traffic stop in Ellisville, Mississippi turned into a guns, drugs and suspected machine-gun conversion case after police said a 22-year-old woman was found driving completely nude in a Dodge Challenger. The driver was identified as Katelyn Maxwell. The Smoking Gun reported that Maxwell was pulled over around 9:40 p.m. after police said the vehicle was being driven erratically and later found marijuana and several firearms inside the car.

The traffic stop happened on Sunday, July 12, 2026, on Hill Street in Ellisville. According to WDAM, the Ellisville Police Department stopped the vehicle at approximately 9:39 p.m. for careless driving. The police report image published by The Smoking Gun said Officer Daniel Johnson observed a black 2017 Dodge Challenger traveling east on Hill Street, moving slowly and driving off the roadway onto the shoulder before the stop was made near the NAPA Auto Parts area.

When the officer made contact with the driver, police said Maxwell was completely nude. The police narrative said she was slightly slumped forward in the seat and had to be asked whether she was nude. Police said she confirmed that she was. Officers asked Maxwell to put clothing on in private, but the stop escalated when the officer saw a Glock handgun near her feet and told her not to touch it.

According to the police report image, Maxwell reached toward the weapon, prompting officers to draw their service firearms and order her to stop. She complied, stepped out of the vehicle and was placed in handcuffs. The report said Maxwell made statements that did not make sense, slurred her speech and had difficulty following simple orders. Police also reported an odor of intoxicants and the smell of marijuana.

A probable-cause search followed. The Smoking Gun reported that officers found a Glock handgun at Maxwell’s feet, another Glock wedged between the passenger seat and center console, a third Glock in the trunk and two AR-15 rifles. One rifle appeared to have been outfitted with a “switch,” which police said could make the weapon fully automatic. WDAM reported that officers found marijuana, modified firearms and possible fully automatic conversion devices inside the vehicle.

The police report image said officers found a small plastic bag of marijuana on the driver’s seat that field-tested positive and weighed about three grams. Officers also located cans of intoxicating beverage in the vehicle. The report said Maxwell agreed to provide one breath sample but did not provide a sufficient second sample. She was then booked on DUI refusal and other charges.

WDAM reported that Maxwell was charged with DUI refusal, possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle while in possession of a firearm, careless driving and no seatbelt. The police report image also listed no insurance. SuperTalk Mississippi reported an additional possession-of-a-modified-firearm charge in its summary, but the most conservative charge wording from the Ellisville police coverage is DUI refusal, marijuana in a motor vehicle while in possession of a firearm, careless driving and no seatbelt, with the firearm-modification investigation handed to Jones County authorities.

The case widened after police questioned Maxwell about the firearms. The Smoking Gun reported that Maxwell told police her boyfriend, 24-year-old Shon Cooley, used a 3D printer to make “switches.” WDAM reported that the Dodge Challenger belonged to Cooley, who lived in the Powers Community, and that Jones County Sheriff’s Department narcotics agents executed a search warrant at his residence because of concerns about potentially unauthorized fully automatic weapons.

That search led to a second arrest. WDAM reported that deputies found several more firearms that had been modified, along with additional parts that could be used to modify other firearms. Cooley was arrested and charged with unauthorized manufacture, possession or use of a machine gun conversion device. In a separate WDAM follow-up, law enforcement said Cooley admitted to modifying the functions of several weapons for friends. Cooley is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Mississippi law now specifically addresses machine-gun conversion devices. Mississippi Code Section 97-37-39, known as the Jeremy Todd Malone Law, makes it a felony for a person to manufacture, possess or use a machine-gun conversion device unless otherwise authorized by federal law. The statute defines the devices as those designed and intended to convert semi-automatic firearms into machine guns and lists a first-offense maximum of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Those are possible statutory penalties, not confirmed sentences in this case.

The marijuana and driving charges also carry legal consequences under Mississippi law. Mississippi Code Section 63-11-30 makes it unlawful to operate a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, another impairing substance or an unlawful controlled substance. Mississippi Code Section 41-29-139 provides penalties for marijuana possession and includes a motor-vehicle provision for more than one gram but not more than 30 grams of marijuana kept in the driver or passenger area of a vehicle. Mississippi Code Section 41-29-152 allows enhanced punishment for controlled-substance violations committed while in possession of a firearm.

No conviction, plea agreement, dismissal or sentence was confirmed in the available sources reviewed for this article. The reported outcome so far is that Maxwell was arrested and held in the Jones County jail on a reported $35,000 bond, while Cooley was separately arrested after the search of his residence. Both cases should be described as arrests and allegations unless final court records confirm a disposition.

The case drew attention because of the startling first detail: a nude driver behind the wheel. But the more serious part of the case was not the lack of clothing. It was the alleged combination of impairment, marijuana, multiple loaded or accessible firearms and suspected conversion devices. The nakedness made the headline glow like a warning flare. The weapon allegations are the engine under the hood.

Section 1: The Crime

The alleged crime began as careless driving and developed into a larger investigation involving marijuana, impaired driving, firearms and suspected machine-gun conversion devices. Ellisville police said Maxwell was driving a black 2017 Dodge Challenger slowly and erratically on Hill Street, including leaving the roadway and moving onto the shoulder.

During the stop, officers said Maxwell was completely nude and appeared impaired. Police reported smelling marijuana and intoxicants, then searched the vehicle. Officers found marijuana, multiple Glock handguns, two AR-15 rifles and suspected conversion-device parts. One AR-15 reportedly appeared to have a switch that could make the weapon fully automatic.

Important wording note: This article treats the case as allegations and arrests. No final conviction or sentence was confirmed in the available sources.

Section 2: Crime Location

The traffic stop occurred on Hill Street in Ellisville, Mississippi, near Washington Street and the NAPA Auto Parts area referenced in the police narrative. Ellisville is in Jones County. The later search connected to Cooley occurred at a residence in the Powers Community, according to WDAM reporting.

Section 3: Date And Time Of Crime

The traffic stop occurred on Sunday, July 12, 2026. WDAM reported the stop time as approximately 9:39 p.m., while The Smoking Gun described the time as around 9:40 p.m. The police report image lists 2139 hours, which is 9:39 p.m.

Section 4: Police Department

The initial traffic stop was handled by the Ellisville Police Department. The police report lists Officer Daniel Johnson as the original reporting officer, with assistance from other officers. Jones County Sheriff’s Department narcotics personnel later assisted with the suspected modified-firearm investigation and search warrant activity. The City of Ellisville lists the police department at 102 W. Holly Street, Ellisville, Mississippi 39437, with a non-emergency number of 601-477-9252.

Section 5: Suspect Name

The main traffic-stop suspect was Katelyn Maxwell. The related firearm-conversion suspect was identified as Shon Cooley, Maxwell’s boyfriend and the reported owner of the Dodge Challenger. Cooley was arrested after Jones County authorities searched his residence.

Section 6: Suspect Age

Maxwell was reported to be 22 years old. Cooley was reported to be 24 years old.

Section 7: Charges

WDAM reported that Maxwell was charged with DUI refusal, possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle while in possession of a firearm, careless driving and no seatbelt. The police report image also referenced no insurance. SuperTalk Mississippi reported possession of a modified firearm as part of its summary, but the firearm-modification investigation appears to have been turned over to Jones County authorities for further processing.

Cooley was charged with unauthorized manufacture, possession or use of a machine-gun conversion device. Mississippi Code Section 97-37-39 makes unauthorized manufacture, possession or use of such a device a felony. The statute defines machine-gun conversion devices as devices designed, made and intended to convert a semi-automatic firearm into a machine gun.

Section 8: Bond Amount

The Smoking Gun reported that Maxwell was locked up in the Jones County jail in lieu of $35,000 bond. A public bond amount for Cooley was not confirmed in the reviewed sources.

Section 9: Conviction

No conviction was confirmed for Maxwell or Cooley in the available sources reviewed for this article. The cases should be described as arrests and allegations unless official court records later confirm a plea, conviction, dismissal or other disposition.

Section 10: Sentence

No final sentence was confirmed in the reviewed sources. For legal context only, Mississippi law lists possible penalties for DUI, marijuana possession, firearm-related drug enhancements and machine-gun conversion devices, but those are statutory ranges and not actual sentences in this case.

Section 11: Outcome

The reported outcome so far is that Maxwell was arrested after the Ellisville traffic stop and jailed on a reported $35,000 bond. The vehicle and firearms investigation then led Jones County authorities to Cooley’s residence, where additional modified firearms and parts were reportedly found. Cooley was arrested on a machine-gun conversion device charge. Both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Section 12: Victim

No direct private victim was identified in the reviewed sources. The alleged victims or affected parties are the public, law enforcement and the State of Mississippi, because the case involves alleged impaired driving, controlled substances, firearms in a vehicle and suspected conversion devices. No crash, shooting or physical injury was reported in the sources reviewed.

Section 13: Victim Name

No private victim name was reported. The public-safety victim interest belongs to the community, law enforcement and the State of Mississippi.

Section 14: Victim Age

No individual victim age applies because no private person was identified as a direct victim in the reviewed sources.

Sources

1. The Smoking Gun: Naked Woman Was Driving With Guns, Drugs
2. The Smoking Gun: Ellisville Police report image, page 1
3. WDAM: Woman arrested in Ellisville completely nude, in possession of marijuana, modified firearms
4. WDAM: 3D-printed gun modifications seized near Jones County elementary school
5. SuperTalk Mississippi: Arrest of naked woman leads to discovery of illegally modified guns in Jones County
6. Mississippi Code § 97-37-39: Machine gun conversion devices
7. Mississippi Code § 63-11-30: DUI and DUI refusal
8. Mississippi Code § 41-29-139: Controlled substance penalties
9. Mississippi Code § 41-29-152: Controlled-substance penalty enhancement while possessing firearm
10. City of Ellisville: Police Department contact information

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