A U.S. 1 traffic stop led to the arrest of a Merritt Island, Florida man on Friday after deputies discovered a stolen firearm and marijuana inside the vehicle.
Michael Christopher Ennis, 42, was charged with grand theft of a firearm, possession of marijuana, two counts possession of marijuana without a prescription and possession of paraphernalia.
Around 1 p.m., Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies spotted a truck with an obstructed license plate near Mile Marker 101 in Key Largo. Deputies pulled the vehicle over and met with the driver, identified as Ennis, who immediately stated he had a firearm in the car, according to the report.
Deputies had Ennis step out of the vehicle for a search of weapons on his person, and Ennis advised he had a concealed carry license, which the deputies confirmed. A subsequent search of his vehicle revealed a .40-caliber Springfield handgun and a Ruger .357 Magnum revolver, three marijuana cigars, marijuana-infused gummy worms, an electronic vape pen with THC oil and a marijuana grinder, according to the report.
After entering the two guns’ serial numbers in the Florida Crime Information Center/National Crime Information Center, the deputies determined the .357 revolver had been reported stolen out of Titusville, Florida. There no issues with the other firearm, according to the report.
Ennis was booked into the Plantation Key jail, but he was released the next day.
Information in the Crime Report is obtained from reports provided by area law enforcement agencies.
If you have information that could help solve a crime in the Florida Keys, call Crime Stoppers, 800-346-TIPS.