On October 17th at around 6:03 p.m., West Precinct bicycle patrol officers assigned to the Occupy Seattle demonstration at Westlake Park made contact with a 40-year old man carrying a rifle case over his shoulder. Officers overheard him say that he was carrying a Ruger, an apparent reference to the firearms manufacturer. Officers made contact with the man and removed the case. A search of the case revealed an unloaded short barreled rifle with a pistol grip. Officers asked the man if he had any ammunition for the rifle and he provided them with an ammunition box that contained approximately 16 rounds.
A routine computer check indicated that the man was a convicted felon. Officers placed the man under arrest for Violation of the Uniformed Firearms Act (VUFA), a felony weapons violation. The man was booked into King County Jail. The rifle was placed into evidence.
The seized rifle photographed at the Seattle Police Evidence Unit.