Oregon trio arrested after Redding traffic stop leads to discovery of stolen weapons and heroin
REDDING, Calif., — Authorities say a trio of Oregon residents were arrested after a traffic stop in Redding led to the discovery of heroin and multiple firearms, including some that were reported stolen and others that were un-serialized “Ghost Guns” Friday evening, Jan. 21.
The trio reportedly told officers they had been traveling from Oregon to Modesto when they pulled off the highway for fuel leading to the stop, discovery, and arrests.
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City of Redding police officers were patrolling the Bechelli Lane area around 8:30 p.m. when they spotted a black Chevy HHR with no license plates attached to the vehicle, Redding Police Sergeant R. Ortega has since said of the stop and arrests.
Based on the observed vehicle code violation, officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and contacted the occupants of the vehicle. During that contact, officers identified the driver as, Michael Warren Fuson, 34, of Eugene, Oregon, along with passengers, David Joseph Essary, 29, of Springfield, Oregon, and Brenda Ann Crow, 21, of Eugene, Oregon.
Fuson told officers the trio was traveling from Eugene, Oregon, to Modesto, California, and had only stopped in Redding for fuel.
Michael Warren Fuson (L), Brenda Ann Crow (C), and David Joseph Essary (R), all from Oregon, were arrested after a traffic stop uncovered both stolen and un-serialized firearms, multiple magazines and ammunition, and heroin Friday evening. Redding Police Department photos
During the traffic enforcement stop, Essary admitted to officers that he is on parole, and as a condition of his parole is mandated to warrantless searches, according to Ortega; who said, “As officers asked all three occupants to exit the vehicle, 4.9 grams of heroin was located sitting on the driver’s seat where Fuson had been seated.”
During a subsequent search, officers located two loaded handguns in the front seat area where Crow and Essary had been sitting. A records check revealed both firearms had been reported stolen to the Eugene, Oregon Police Department.
“Officers also located two shotguns, a short-barreled rifle and three additional handguns, two of which were un-serialized “Ghost Guns”, along with multiple high-capacity magazines, miscellaneous ammunition, firearm parts, and accessories,” Ortega explained.
“Both Fuson and Essary are convicted felons and are prohibited from possessing firearms,” the Sergeant continued; adding, “Crow was also found in possession of narcotic drug paraphernalia and admitted to being a narcotic drug user, therefore, she is prohibited from possessing firearms as well.”
A trio of Oregon residents told officers they were traveling to Modesto when they pulled off the highway for fuel. A subsequent search of their vehicle led to the discovery of a small cache of weapons and ammunition. Redding Police Department photo
Based on their investigation and discoveries, officers arrested all three occupants, and the trio was later booked into the Shasta County Jail on a variety of charges related to the stop.
Fuson was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of controlled substances.
Essary was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of a loaded firearm in public, possession of a short-barreled rifle, and concealed carry of a stolen weapon.
Crow was booked on suspicion of being a felon in Possession of a Firearm and ammunition, possession of a loaded firearm in public, possession of a short-barreled rifle, concealed carry of a stolen weapon, possession of controlled substances, and possession of controlled substances while armed with a loaded firearm.
Online jail records indicate Crow and Essary remain in custody in lieu of $25,000 bail or bond, while Fuson remains held on $10,000 bail or bond.
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Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).
Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.