WINONA, Mo. — A Winona man is facing charges after police recovered a hidden backpack containing a firearm and ammunition during an investigation on April 25, according to the Winona Police Department.
Sgt. Michael Stallings reported seeing Steven Vantine walking from JF Norton Parkway onto County Road 450 carrying a green backpack. Stallings said Vantine attempted to conceal his face while moving behind buildings and later reappeared without the bag. When contacted by Stallings and Officer Jeremy Sears, Vantine denied having a backpack before acknowledging officers had seen him with it.
Officers searched the area and found the backpack hidden in bushes about 10 to 15 feet off the roadway. Inside, they reported locating a semi‑automatic 9mm handgun with a loaded magazine, additional ammunition, and roughly 1,000 small and large rifle primers. Because Vantine is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms, officers sought assistance from the Shannon County Sheriff’s Office to locate him.
Vantine was later found at a residence in Winona, arrested, and transported to the Shannon County Jail on a 24‑hour hold pending a warrant application. A warrant was issued with a $5,000 cash‑only bond.
City officials thanked Winona officers and Shannon County deputies for their work. All charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
