Weapons Cache Seized, Man Arrested in Agua Dulce

AGUA DULCE (CNS) - An investigation by federal, state and county authorities has led to the seizure in Agua Dulce of hundreds of guns and the arrest of a 60-year-old man suspected of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, authorities said today.

 The investigation was started after a tip was received by the Los Angeles County sheriff's Palmdale Station about a local man who is a convicted felon being in possession of a large arsenal of firearms, according to the Sheriff's Information Bureau.

 About 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, Palmdale Station detectives along with investigators from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the California Department of Justice served a search warrant in the 34700 block Caprock Road in the unincorporated Agua Dulce area and arrested Manuel Fernandez.

 ``At the residence, 432 firearms were seized during the service of the warrant,” according to a sheriff's department statement.

 At a second location linked to Fernandez, this one in the 34900 block of Sweetwater Drive, investigators seized another 30 illegal firearms possessed by a female associate of the suspect, according to the sheriff's department.

 ``The female suspect was not home at the time of the warrant service and has not returned to the location,” officials said. ``Detectives are preparing charges for the (Los Angeles County) District Attorney for filing consideration.

 Another warrant served Friday at Fernandez's Agua Dulce home ``led to the seizure of an additional 91 firearms that were hidden within the home,” according to the sheriff's department. Also seized were computers, cellphones and hard drives from the residence believed to be involved in the illicit purchase of firearms by the suspect.”

 Agents are working to trace where the weapons came from, according to the sheriff's department, which reported that Fernandez was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of firearms, possession of an assault rifle, being a felon in possession of ammunition and possession of large capacity magazines.

 Fernandez was released from custody on Friday after posting bond, according to the sheriff's department.


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