A convicted felon was arrested during a welfare check on State Route 70, north of Palmero Road, Wednesday morning.

California Highway Patrol in Oroville confirmed that the suspect, identified as 28-year-old Steven James Sturgill, was driving a sedan at at approximately 2:20 a.m. when he pulled onto the right shoulder and activated his hazard lights.

Patrolling officers pulled over behind the sedan to conduct a welfare check and discovered that the vehicle registration expired in November 2017.

After talking to Sturgill and identifying him as the driver, officers ran a warrants check and discovered Sturgill is a convicted felon with two outstanding warrants.

As an officer went to confront Sturgill, he opened his driver side door and the officer noticed a handgun pressed between the driver’s seat and the door. Sturgill was promptly detained and questioned. Police found that the handgun-a Smith and Wesson 9mm-was listed under Department of Justice watch and wasn’t registered to Sturgill.

Sturgill has been taken to Butte County Jail and booked in on multiple weapon violations.

Josiah Nicholl can be reached at [email protected] or @josiah_theorion on Twitter.