VENTURA : Police Say Man Had Planned to Use Gun
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Following his arrest late Thursday on charges of possessing a sawed-off shotgun, a local transient admitted to Ventura police officers that he intended to shoot one of them until another officer arrived, police said.
Police said Officer Greg Sowards pulled Jason Charles Brackett, 26, over on a routine traffic stop shortly before midnight Thursday. While Brackett was being detained, a second officer, Ray Lau, arrived, Sgt. Larry White said.
Lau noticed that narcotics paraphernalia was clearly visible in Brackett’s vehicle, White said. Police said that after a search, the officers found a loaded, single-shot, sawed-off shotgun and a loaded homemade gun in a fanny pack.
Brackett admitted that he had hidden the shotgun under his jacket and had intended to shoot Sowards, White said. But when Lau arrived, Brackett decided not to use the gun, saying he realized that he would be shot by the second officer if he shot Sowards, police said.
Brackett remained in Ventura County Jail Friday in lieu of $50,000 bail.
He was arrested on charges of possession of a sawed-off shotgun, brandishing a weapon and possession of a loaded firearm.
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