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WEST JORDAN — A case involving stolen guns from a West Jordan store that sells hunting supplies has been turned over to federal authorities.
On Dec. 6, 13 handguns were stolen during a burglary at C-A-L Ranch, 2735 W. 7800 South, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in 3rd District Court.
On Dec. 11, undercover detectives from Unified police set up "a sting to buy some of the guns stolen from Cal Ranch," the warrant states. But during the operation, the man allegedly selling the guns rammed at least one police car and fled, according to the warrant. The vehicle was later found abandoned near 3961 W. 9000 South.
Inside the vehicle, investigators "located two handguns that were confirmed stolen from Cal Ranch. Additionally a pipe bomb was located and was destroyed by the bomb squad on scene," the warrant states.
Both West Jordan and Unified police said not long after, investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives took over the case. According to the warrant served by West Jordan police, ATF agents served a sealed warrant at the suspect's West Jordan residence on Dec. 14.
As of Wednesday, the man listed in the warrant who is believed to be connected to the stolen guns had not been charged for that crime. A spokeswoman for the ATF was unable to comment on the case, telling the Deseret News in a prepared statement that "due to a lapse in funding and the government shutdown, I will not be able to answer your questions at this time. If you are still interested after the government reopens, please let me know."
The man, however, is currently incarcerated in the Utah County Jail where he is charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnapping in another case, according to court records. He was also charged in federal court in 2001 in a series of bank robberies and eventually convicted and sentenced to federal prison, court records state.
