Bay Pt. Man Busted for Possessing 49 Weapons

Contra Costa County and state law enforcement agents arrested a man for alleged assault with a deadly weapon and illegal weapons possession Thursday night after seizing four dozen weapons at his Bay Point home, according to the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office.

While on patrol in Bay Point Thursday, some deputy sheriffs were stopped by a citizen reporting an assault with a deadly weapon, sheriff's office spokesman Jimmy Lee said.

The report led the sheriffs to a home in the 100 block of Bella Vista Avenue around 9:50 p.m.

During their investigation at the home, deputies found on a bed a loaded Uzi submachine gun, Lee said.

The discovery prompted deputies to call the Criminal Anti-Violence Support Effort team - a group of sheriff's deputies and California Department of Justice officers - to conduct a search of the home.

After obtaining a warrant, the team searched the residence and discovered 49 illegal shotguns, Uzis, rifles and handguns, Lee said.

The firearms were taken as evidence and deputies arrested a resident of the home, 50-year-old Mike Kestner, on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and for allegedly possessing the illegal weapons, according to the sheriff's office.

Kestner was taken to the Martinez Detention Facility where he is being held on $50,000 bail.

- Bay City News