Kent, WA – A 58-year-old Renton man was arrested Sunday night after Kent Police discovered a sawed-off shotgun and ammunition during a traffic stop near SE 192nd and 140th Avenue SE.
According to Kent Police Department (KPD), Officer Hernandez initiated a stop around 9 p.m. after witnessing a Honda Odyssey run a red light. The officer observed the driver behaving erratically and moving his hands rapidly inside the vehicle. A female passenger was found unconscious in the front seat, prompting Hernandez to request medical assistance from Puget Sound Fire.
As the suspect exited the vehicle, officers spotted a Winchester 12-gauge shotgun beside the driver’s seat. The weapon had a sawed-off barrel — an illegal modification. The suspect claimed the firearm was not his, saying he had found it in a parking lot the previous day. However, officers soon learned he was a convicted felon prohibited from possessing any firearm.
Police recovered three shotgun shells from the man’s pockets. Both the suspect and passenger were examined by medics; the female passenger briefly regained consciousness before passing out again and was transported to a local hospital. Officers also reported finding traces of a white powdery substance near the passenger, though the connection to the case remains under investigation.
The suspect was booked for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Unlawful Possession of a Short-Barreled Shotgun. He reportedly turned 59 two days later.
Kent Police concluded their post by noting, “Not a great way to celebrate.