May 7, 2007 11:52 am US/Eastern
Officer's Murder Highlights Loophole In Gun Laws
BALTIMORE (AP) ―
A laser-sighted Sig Sauer handgun that changed hands several times before being used in a city officer's murder this year illustrates why police need a stronger gun investigation unit, Baltimore police said.
Hours after Detective Troy Chesley was shot twice in the chest on his girlfriend's front porch in January, police detectives found the handgun and the suspect -- 21-year-old Brandon Grimes.
Not only had Grimes already been arrested twice for handgun possession, police discovered they had seized the weapon two times before it was used in Chesley's murder.
Last week, Mayor Sheila Dixon announced a plan to revitalize a city gun unit of detectives investigating criminals, their weapons and where they get them in an effort to get and keep guns off the streets.
In 2001, a firearms investigation turned up eight weapons including the Sig Sauer P226 that killed Chesley. But police had to return the weapons 19 months later to its owner because he was only charged with a misdemeanor in Washington D.C.
The weapons weren't returned at first, police said, because they believed Mustafa Alif wasn't allowed to own weapons because of the conviction. However, they later learned he was allowed to own weapons and returned them, police said.
But after they were returned, police said Brandon Grimes got at least two of the weapons and Alif's own son allegedly stole three of the other weapons. Police said about six of the weapons have been used in crimes in the area.
"That is why this (new) gun unit is so critical," Col. Frederick H. Bealefeld III, the deputy police commissioner, said, referring to Dixon's plan. "Even with a 10-man unit, we can't possibly follow up on every gun seized in this city."
Once police started investigating the theft of Alif's weapons by his son, Bealefeld told The (Baltimore) Sun they found a note left by Alif's son. "I got caught up in some (expletive), I'm sorry and I'll call you," the note said.
But a warrant was never issued, despite the officer's indication she would do so, police said. Bealefeld said an internal investigation into the officer's conduct began five months ago and is ongoing.
Alif told police his son had been robbed and was plotting revenge when he stole his father's weapons. He told the Sun his son found the man who robbed him but police were around at the time.
"He didn't want to get caught," Alif said. "So supposedly he ditched the guns."
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
