Deputy arrests man patrolling Lucerne with loaded firearm
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
LUCERNE, Calif. – On Thursday evening a sheriff’s deputy arrested a Lucerne man who had a loaded firearm, was wearing a badge and had a light bar on his vehicle and who claimed to be patrolling the community.
Christopher John Sorenson Jr., 28, was taken into custody in the case, according to Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
At 7:30 p.m. Thursday a deputy was patrolling in the Lucerne area when he observed a white Dodge Neon car travelling towards him with activated flashing emergency lights on top of the car, in the windshield and in the grill, Paulich said.
Paulich said the Neon’s driver, identified as Sorenson, stopped next to the deputy, who noticed the vehicle had the words “security patrol” displayed on the driver’s door.
Sorenson was wearing a black knit hat that had “security officer” on the front and a brown tactical vest with a star-shaped badge on it also labeled with “security officer,” according to Paulich.
Paulich said Sorenson told the deputy that he was patrolling. The deputy asked Sorenson if he had a firearm and he said he did.
Sorenson got out of his vehicle and the deputy saw he had a semi-automatic pistol in a holster on his tactical vest. Sorenson was also wearing a duty belt with extra magazines, pepper spray, handcuffs, and flashlight, Paulich said.
The deputy took the pistol from Sorenson and found it to be loaded. Paulich said Sorenson provided the deputy with a Bureau of Security and Investigative Services permit for carrying an exposed firearm.
However, Paulich said the permit was only valid when Sorenson was employed performing duties related to the permit. Sorenson told the deputy he was not currently employed.
Sorenson was placed under arrest for misdemeanor charges of carrying a firearm in a vehicle and carrying a loaded firearm in public. He was transported to the Lake County Jail where he was later released after posting bail, Paulich said.
Paulich said Sorenson was not acting on behalf of any community patrol organizations, and he added that the sheriff’s office reminds citizens that it is illegal to carry a firearm even if you are part of a community patrol organization.
The community’s assistance with identifying potential suspects and crimes is greatly appreciated, but Paulich said authorities ask that citizens only observe and report and not take action.
Anyone who may have been contacted or detained by Sorenson is asked to contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 707-263-2690.