A man prohibited by court order from owning a firearm was arrested this week after allegedly being caught with a ghost gun in his vehicle during a traffic stop near Camp Pendleton, officials said Thursday.
Deputies pulled over Ryan Rotherforth, 28, for a vehicle-code violation in the 1600 block of South Mission Road in Fallbrook shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.
“The firearm was seized and rendered safe,” said a statement from the department. “It was discovered that the firearm was altered, un-serialized, and had live ammunition in the magazine.”
The lack of a manufacturer’s serial number makes it extremely challenging for law enforcement to track those types of firearms to their owners or makers, hindering or delaying investigations and crime-solving efforts, the Sheriff’s Office added.
A computer records check revealed that Rotherforth was the subject of a temporary restraining order stemming from a domestic-violence case and thus could not possess a gun, and that one of his two passengers had waived his Fourth Amendment search-and-seizure rights in court, Sgt. Tyler Skeels said.
During a search of the vehicle, deputies found a loaded pistol in a small black bag behind the front passenger’s seat and impounded it, according to Skeels.
“It was discovered that the firearm was altered, unserialized and had live ammunition in the magazine,” the sergeant said.
On top of the barrel of the weapon someone had spelled out, in stenciled paint or stickers, the phrase “SEE YOU IN HELL” in block letters, according to sheriff’s officials.
Rotherforth was arrested on suspicion of felony weapons offenses, including carrying a loaded gun in public and illegally altering a firearm.
City News Service contributed to this report.
