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Erratic driving stop yields handgun, gas mask, fake mustache and more |
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Thursday, 15 January 2009 |
On Sunday Jan. 11, 2009 at approximately 8:56 a.m. a Mono County Deputy Sheriff observed a vehicle travelling northbound at a high rate of speed on Highway 395 south of the Bridgeport area. The Deputy made a U-turn and attempted to catch up to the vehicle. After doing so, he saw the vehicle was now travelling southbound towards him, still at a high rate of speed. The Deputy made another U-turn, but lost sight of the vehicle. Believing the vehicle might have turned off of Highway 395, he checked the Bodie Road, located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop.
The driver was identified as Mr. William Kavanach, 44, a resident of Pasadena. Mr. Kavanach seemed nervous as he was glancing around and his hands were visibly shaking. The Deputy asked why he was driving erratically and why he had driven around a “Closed Road” barrier/sign. Mr. Kavanach said he didn’t see any closed road sign and just wanted to take a picture of Mono Lake.
During a search of Mr. Kavanach’s vehicle, the Deputy discovered a loaded handgun that was hidden inside the vehicle’s multiple CD changer in the trunk, a ski mask with goggles, gas mask, wig and mustache, additional ammunition and photos and maps of bridges, commercial structures, and various locations in California including the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant. The Deputy also determined that one of the vehicle’s license plates had been altered with paint to convey incorrect lettering at first glance.
Mr. Kavanach was placed under arrest for possession of a concealed weapon and altering the license plate of the vehicle. He was transported to the Bridgeport Jail for booking and is awaiting charges to be filed by the District Attorney’s Office.
Due to the nature of this arrest, the local magistrate was contacted and granted a bail increase for Mr. Kavanach. The Federal Bureau of Investigation was also contacted and advised of the circumstances; they responded the following morning and are conducting a preliminary investigation of their own.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 16 January 2009 )
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