Assault investigation leads to discovery of 50 guns, marijuana inside Pasadena apartment

PASADENA — Police searching the home of a man accused of pointing a loaded handgun at a police officer who knocked at his door discovered a cache of 50 guns, including three banned assault weapons, along with thousands of rounds of ammunition and a large amount of marijuana, authorities said.
Stephen Eric Paulsen, 43, of Pasadena was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the initial incident, which took place about 11:30 p.m. Thursday, according to Pasadena police officials and Los Angeles County booking records. Investigators planned to present their findings from the subsequent search warrant to prosecutors for possible additional charges, Pasadena police Lt. Vasken Gourdikian said.
An officer responded to investigate a report of a dispute or disturbance at an apartment in the 800 block of South Marengo Avenue, the lieutenant said.
“The officer knocked on the door in question and looked through the side window and saw the suspect point a firearm at the officer,” Gourdikian said.
Presumably realizing the person he was pointing an allegedly loaded handgun was a police officer, “The suspect put down the weapon and opened the door,” the lieutenant said. He admitted to pointing the gun at the officer and was immediately arrested.
As police were checking the house for any possible victims, they noticed dozens of boxes and other evidence, “that he was in possession of numerous firearms,” he said.
The initial report of a dispute proved unfounded, Gourdikian added.
Police obtained a search warrant and returned to Paulsen’s home Friday, where they found 50 weapons, Gourdikian said. They included 29 handguns, 16 rifles, including the assault weapons, and five shotguns. Thousands of rounds of ammunition, explosive targets and more than a pound of marijuana were also seized from the home, according to the lieutenant.
Police were continuing to look into the legal status of the weapons with help from agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, he said.
According to county booking records, Paulsen was released from custody Friday pending his initial court appearance after posting $50,000 bail.
The search warrant was served later in the morning, officials added.
No one answered a telephone number listed in public records as Paulsen’s Friday night.
It was not clear why Paulsen allegedly had the arsenal.

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