Placer County Sheriff's Office sees gun possession arrests nearly double in past year

The number of arrests for illegal firearm possession has nearly doubled in the past year, the Placer County Sheriff's Office reported Wednesday. According to the Sheriff's Office, there were 48 individuals arrested for firearm possession between January 2019 and March 2020. In contrast, 90 arrests have been made for the same charge between January 2020 and March 2021. The cause for the increase is not known. The Sheriff's Office also reported two recent arrests involving illegal firearm possession: Michael Christian Fiscus, 52, of Colfax was arrested April 2 following a traffic stop in the 13400 block of Bowman Road in Auburn. A search of the side saddlebag of Fiscus' motorcycle revealed a baggie of meth and a loaded Ruger 1911 semi-automatic pistol. According to the arrest report, Fiscus advised he did not have a Concealed Carry Weapons permit. Fiscus was charged with meth possession, possession of a controlled substance while armed, driving on a suspended driver's license and an active misdemeanor warrant. According to Angela Musallam, public information officer for the Placer County Sheriff's Office, Fiscus was released from custody April 2. Lyle Jack Chelgren, 31, of Plumas Lake and Jessica Munoz-Mendoza, 29, of Sacramento were arrested April 3 following an attempted traffic stop of a Toyota Celica in the Interstate 80 and Dry Creek Road area of Auburn. The Sheriff's Office reported deputies lost sight of the suspect vehicle for a short time but located the driver, Chelgren, running along the sidewalk near the Bowman Road exit. Deputies also located two baggies of meth that appeared to have been discarded on the path on which Chelgren was running. Chelgren was charged with conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance, meth possession, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, and destroying evidence. Chelgren was released from custody April 8. At the same time, a Placer County Sheriff's sergeant located the Celica on Lincoln Way and found Munoz-Mendoza inside. The Sheriff's Office reported a search of the vehicle revealed two glass pipes, a hypodermic needle and a loaded Beretta Px4 Storm pistol that was within reach of the driver. Munoz-Mendoza was charged with conspiracy possession of a controlled substance while armed, meth possession, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on a suspended driver's license. Munoz-Mendoza was released from custody April 11.