Fremont seeks owners of 44 stored weapons
By Lee Williams
Published in News on April 9, 2007 1:46 PM
Fremont's new police chief wants to unload more than 44 guns stored in his evidence locker, so he is turning to the community for help.
Chief Ron Rawlings published a list of guns in a local newspaper in an effort to find their owners.
"I did inventory when I first got here of the inventory locker," he said. "I found a lot of weapons that should have been disposed of or returned to the owner. When the case is cleared and the person is found guilty, they should be returned to the Sheriff's Department for disposal."
Some of the guns in the inventory locker might have been turned over to the department for safekeeping. Some might have ended up in police custody after they were found, abandoned or seized as evidence.
The paperwork, which could have been used to identify the owners, was lost or misplaced. So, Rawlings published a list of guns in the newspaper on March 28 in accordance with state law.
Owners were given 30 days -- or until April 27 -- to claim them. All unclaimed guns will be sold.
Some of the weapons listed include a .32-caliber Colt, a .38-caliber Rossi revolver, a 9 mm Smith and Wesson and a Marlin 9 mm rifle.
"In 30 days, if no one claims the weapons, I will make a petition to the court to turn (them) over to the department where I will then sell the weapons to a federally licensed gun dealer," he said. "The money will be used to buy equipment and other things for the department."
Rawlings said no weapons will be turned over to anyone with a criminal record. He also added no weapons will be sold to private citizens.
For more information about the weapons, call the Fremont Police Department at 242-5151.