A traffic stop Sunday night by a police officer led to the recovery of a rifle, tactical gear and other items suspected of having been stolen from the Air Force, according to Joplin police.
Police Lt. Brian Lewis said in a news release that a patrol officer stopped a pickup truck at 11:38 p.m. Sunday near School Avenue and Hill Street on a brake-light violation. An open box of beer in the front seat led to field sobriety tests of the driver and a consent search of the vehicle, Lewis said.
In the bed of the truck, the officer reportedly found several sets of military tactical gloves, a tactical armored vest, a gas mask, a military rifle and a box of ammunition. Handcuffs, gun lights and military clothing were found in the truck, Lewis said.
The 23-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property, and his 21-year-old male passenger was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Both men are from Joplin.
Lewis said police later confirmed the theft of the various military equipment from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. The Jasper County prosecutor’s office had yet to file a charge against the driver by late Tuesday.
