A gun that was recently seized during a recent drug arrest in Brown County was discovered to be a handgun stolen from the San Angelo Police Department in March of 2010.

According to Brown County Sheriff’s Office, investigators stopped a vehicle on Wednesday, February 8th due to suspicious activity.  The vehicle was occupied by 31-year-old Marc Shawn Walden of San Angelo and 31-year-old Christopher Lee Johnson of Brownwood.  Both occupants were found to be “heavily under the influence of methamphetamine” stated Sheriff Bobby Grubbs in a press release on February 9, 2012. 

Grubbs explained that this led to the search of the vehicle which resulted in the discover of over $18,000 in U. S. currency, over 2.5 ounces of high grade methamphetamine, a small amount of marijuana and a loaded Glock semi-automatic pistol which were found in an backpack claimed by Walden, according to the release.

Brown County Sheriff’s investigator Carlisle Gover stated that the serial number initially did not alert that the handgun was stolen; however with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), it was found to be stolen from the San Angelo Police Department.

According to Lieutenant David Howard of the San Angelo Police Department, the 40 caliber Glock was a standard issue firearm belonging to Assistant Chief Robert Martinez who reported it stolen in March of 2010.  Lt. Howard stated that the theft was believed to have occurred when Martinez’s unmarked unit was being cleaned at a full service carwash in San Angelo.  According to Lt. Howard, the vehicle was left unlocked for the cleaning and no evidence of a forced entry was found when the handgun was reported missing.

According to San Angelo Police Department records, there were approximately 700 vehicle burglaries in 2010.  SAPD officials reported that approximately 90% of these burglaries occurred in unlocked cars and many of the 700 total vehicle burglaries were due to high valued items such as electronics, purses or wallets being left in plain sight.

According to BSCO officials, both Walden and Johnson have extensive criminal histories, including multiple felony and misdemeanor arrests for drugs, weapons, and various criminal offenses.  Johnson and Walden remain in custody at the Brown County Jail on charges of Manufacture Delivery of a Controlled Substance Penalty Grade 1 Equal or Greater than 4 grams Less than 200 grams and Possession of Marijuana less than 2 ounces in a Drug Free Zone, according to Brown County Jail records.