‘Ghost Gun’ Assault Weapon Found On 2 Men Arrested In Sonoma County: Police

SANTA ROSA, CA — Officers recovered a loaded, unregistered assault weapon and arrested two Santa Rosa residents following a traffic stop on Saturday evening.

Santa Rosa Police officers said they pulled over a car on Guerneville Road for a vehicle equipment violation around 7:25 p.m. on Saturday

During the stop, officers said they identified the two passengers who had known criminal histories, including prior arrests for violent offenses and firearms-related crimes, and were both associated with a criminal street gang.

A K9 was called to the scene and officers said they found a loaded Springfield Hellcat 9mm handgun. The weapon was determined to be unregistered and classified as an assault weapon under California law due to modified characteristics, including a threaded barrel with a compensator. The magazine was loaded with 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

Israel Birkey, 27, of Santa Rosa, was arrested and faces multiple charges, including felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle, possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle and possession of an assault weapon.

The second passenger, 24-year-old Edward Beltran of Santa Rosa, was arrested for a probation violation related to associating with known criminal street gang participants, which violated his probation terms.

The driver of the vehicle was evaluated and released at the scene without charges.