Detective Headquarters – Gun Unit Recovers 82 Illegal Weapons

"Detective Headquarters – Gun Unit Recovers 82 Illegal Weapons"
 
What:
Press Conference
Where:
Parker Center
150 North Los Angeles Street, Room 618
Los Angeles, CA
When:
Tuesday, August 7, 2001
3:00 P.M.
Why:
Detective Headquarters Gun Unit Recovers 82 Illegal Weapons and Arrests the Suspect

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department Gun Unit, Detective Headquarters Division, received information that a gun dealer from the Midwest was buying firearms in the City, that were no longer eligible for sale in California. In addition, intelligence was received that the gun dealer was also buying assault weapons that were illegal to possess or sell in California, except by licensed assault weapon dealers.
On August 6, 2001, Gun Unit Detectives received information that the Midwest gun dealer had just left a gun store in Los Angeles. Members of the Gun Unit conducted surveillance while the gun dealer was buying weapons from a pawnshop in the South Central Area in the City. An undercover officer approached the suspect and offered an assault weapon and a "Saturday Night Special" for sale in the parking lot of location. The suspect purchased both the assault weapon and the "Saturday Night Special" from the officer. The suspect was stopped by uniformed patrol officers and booked for 12280-(A)(1) PC- Possession of Assault Weapons for Sale.
A total of (82) weapons were seized from the suspect’s truck, including (2) assault weapons, (39) semi-automatic handguns, (24) revolvers, (7) shotguns, (9) rifles and (1) Derringer. The Gun Unit Detectives arrested Gordon Hitchcock, of Ainsworth, Nebraska, for 12280 (A)(1) PC – Possession of Assault Weapons for Sale. Hitchcock was booked at Parker Center Jail and bail was set at $20,000.
For further information regarding this press release, please contact Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586. This press release was prepared by Officer Hayley Purece, Media Relations Section.