Wanted felon caught dumpster diving for .22 caliber rifle: Santa Rosa police

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KRON) – The Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) said an unrelated incident of a sounded burglary alarm led to officers arresting a convicted felon who was dumpster diving to retrieve a “fully operable” .22 caliber rifle.

Santa Rosa police said the incident happened 1:50 a.m. Thursday when two officers were dispatched on the 1700 block of Piner Road to investigate an activated burglary alarm. After investigating and determining it was false, the officers said “they heard a loud banging sound coming from across the street” and discovered it was Justin Caldwell, 57, of Santa Rosa, rummaging through a dumpster.

SRPD said that “one of the officers knew” Caldwell had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court and instructed him to sit down on a nearby curb. As Caldwell walked toward the curb, an officer spotted Caldell throw a “small baggie” into the bushes, which turned out to be methamphetamine, said police.

SRPD said when police investigated why Caldwell was combing through the trash, they discovered that the man was trying to find a “fully operable” .22 caliber rifle that he hid. Caldwell is a convicted felon and is prohibited from having a firearms, said SRPD.

Police said a glass pipe used to smoke meth was located in his backpack during a search.

SRPD said Caldwell was taken to Sonoma County Jail and booked for his outstanding warrant and the charges of felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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