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Jul 16, 2023

Traffic Stop Leads to Ghost Gun Bust in Rochester, MN

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Rochester Police arrested a Twin Cities man on

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Rochester Police arrested a Twin Cities man on suspicion of weapons crimes following a traffic stop over the weekend.

Police Captain Casey Moilanen said a squad vehicle on patrol reported seeing a vehicle commit a traffic violation in the area of 8th Ave. Hwy. 14 in southeast Rochester. The officers then stopped the vehicle around 4 p.m. on Friday.

Moilanen said officers noticed the smell of marijuana. They asked the driver, identified as 20-year-old Theophilis Jreh, to exit the vehicle and initiated a search.

Officers then recovered a firearm equipped with an auto sear, which is a device that converts a firearm from semi-automatic to automatic, in the driver's side door. Moilanen said a search of the vehicle's truck revealed a case containing materials consistent with assembling ghost guns.

The materials were reported to be sufficient for assembling a firearm that does not have a serial number, police say. Jreh was charged Monday with a felony weapons crime.

Jreh's conditional bail was set at $10,000. His next court appearance is set for June 14.