Police Arrest Ex-Felon Carrying Loaded Handgun

(The following information was received by Patch from the Benicia Police Department and is reprinted here.)

DATE & TIME:        November 3, 2013 5:26 p.m.              

LOCATION:  Lake Herman Road, Benicia

INCIDENT TYPE:    Arrest of Ex-Felon for possessing a concealed/loaded handgun during traffic stop.

SUMMARY OF INCIDENT: 

On November 3rd, Benicia Police Officer Armando Sanchez stopped a vehicle on Lake Herman Road near Water Way for failing to stop for a stop sign.

Upon contacting the driver of the vehicle, Officer Sanchez smelled a distinct odor of marijuana. During the contact, the driver of the vehicle, Ken Bruemmer, told the officers he was carrying a concealed firearm.

He was placed in handcuffs and a loaded Ruger .45 semi-automatic handgun was located in his waistband. The handgun was loaded with (8) eight bullets.

During a further search of the vehicle, a plastic baggie containing suspected marijuana was also recovered. Bruemmer provided a valid Physicians Recommendation to possess the marijuana.

Bruemmer was previously convicted of Assault w/Deadly Weapon using a firearm during the commission of a crime in 1988, and a second felony conviction in 1995 for Assault w/Deadly Weapon (non-firearm) in 1995. As a convicted felon, he cannot possess any type of firearms.  The firearm was later found to belong to Bruemmer’s brother.

Lt. Frank Hartig said “we are very fortunate that this incident concluded with the suspect surrendering and complying with the officer’s orders. The officers confronted an armed suspect, with a prior history of violence and weapons convictions and were fortunate to have a peaceful outcome. The professionalism and training of this officer prevented this situation from ending with a different result.”