California authorities seized more than 550 guns last week from two Southern California homes and made one arrest after receiving a tip that a convicted felon was storing a substantial arsenal of firearms.
Searchers who raided the 60-year-old Manuel Fernandez’s residence in Agua Dulce initially found 432 rifles and handguns before returning and finding another 91 hidden weapons, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office said Monday. Thirty more guns were seized at a different home believed to be linked to an associate of Fernandez.
#LASD Investigation Leads to the Seizure of 553 Firearms in Unincorporated Los Angeles County Area of Agua Dulce @ATFHQ @CADOJOSA https://t.co/wi5s964fgx pic.twitter.com/EwIpbS1a71
— LA County Sheriff’s (@LASDHQ) June 19, 2018
Fernandez was arrested last week, but the associate allegedly linked to him has not returned back to his residence were 30 firearms were seized.
“Detectives also seized computers, cellphones, and hard drives from the residence believed to be involved in the illicit purchase of firearms by the suspect,” the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department said in a statement.
The Los Angeles Times cited an unnamed source saying Fernandez appears to not own the firearms with the intention of violence, but rather keeps them as a collection.
Fernandez was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and illegally possessing large-capacity magazines.
After a bail of $35,000 was set, Fernandez went free on bond.
