Monterey County Sheriff’s deputies on Sunday arrested a Pacific Grove man with a WWII-era machine gun described as a “weapon of mass destruction.”
Brian Richard Knabb, 42, also had a loaded .45 caliber pistol and a loaded 1911 A-1 pistol, sheriff’s deputies said.
In addition, he faces charges for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.
Knabb was booked into Monterey County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.
On the evening of Sept. 21, around 8:30pm, a Monterey County Sheriff’s deputy was patrolling the community of Castroville when they observed a vehicle driving down the middle of a street into the path of oncoming traffic.
The deputy conducted a traffic stop in the area of Poole Street and McDougal Street, and contacted a female driver and male passenger.
A deputy with the help of his K9 officer “Rocket,” arrived to assist. Rocket alerted deputies to the presence of controlled substances.
A search of the vehicle revealed the presence of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.
During the search, deputies discovered the guns, and discovered that one of the pistols was within hands-reach of where the passenger was seated, and inches from where deputies had been standing during the contact.
Two of the weapons did not have serial numbers, deputies said.
Investigators discovered that Knabb, a convicted felon, was attempting to sell the light machine gun.
Sheriff Tina Nieto said that the WWII machine gun is capable of firing over 500 rounds per minute.
“It’s a weapon of war,” she said. “It’s a weapon of mass destruction. Thanks to the vigilant training of our deputies and Rocket, our K9, . . . these weapons were taken off the street before they could cause destruction and harm.
Knabb was booked into the Monterey County Jail for being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a machine gun, possession of a controlled substance while armed, possession of an unserialized firearm and other charges.
The female driver was cited and released for possession of a controlled substance.
