San Diego Sheriff‘s deputies stopped and arrested a felon Monday who they say was carrying a loaded “ghost gun” in his car.
Deputies from the Vista Station stopped Ricardo Alvarez, 33, at approximately 1 a.m. Monday in the 1000 block of South Santa Fe Avenue for an expired car registration, said Sgt. Austin Smith.
During a search of the vehicle, a deputy discovered a loaded ghost gun in a hidden compartment. A bag containing ammunition, a holster, a Taser gun and drug paraphernalia were also found inside the vehicle, Smith said.
Alvarez was arrested and booked into the Vista Detention Facility, accused of being a felon in possession of a firearm and other weapons-related violations.
Ghost guns, also known as kit guns or 80-percent guns, are virtually untraceable weapons that can be made at home using legally purchased parts to complete the 80% already assembled. They are sold at gun shows and online.
The unfinished parts are not required under federal law to have serial numbers or a background check to purchase.
City News Service contributed to this article.