By Cathy Logg
Herald Writer
EVERETT — The U.S. Attorney’s Office is considering whether to file charges against a postal employee who took numerous weapons to work in his car earlier this month, authorities said.
The employee was suspended, but not arrested, said Tom Montgomery, U.S. Postal Inspection Service spokesman in Seattle. The case remains under investigation.
Federal authorities served a search warrant on the employee’s car and seized about three dozen rifles, a handgun and several swords. Federal law prohibits possession of firearms on federal property, Montgomery said.
The employee was due to be disciplined by a supervisor on May 3, he said.
The weapons were noticed by a supervisor walking through the Everett post office processing center’s parking lot who looked through the employee’s car windows and spotted two rifles on the back seat, Montgomery said.
"There were quite a few weapons in the vehicle," Montgomery said. "We consider this an extremely serious incident. Anytime we find weapons on postal property, we take it very seriously."
The employee reportedly said he was a licensed gun dealer and the weapons were war memorabilia for sale at a gun show. Montgomery could not confirm the weapons’ vintage.
The employee now faces possible criminal prosecution as well as an administrative review. He could be charged with one misdemeanor for each weapon involved, or an aggregate charge, Montgomery said.
The man’s supervisors will decide whether to impose disciplinary action, he said. The employee could be fired.
"There have been cases where people have been removed for this, but it varies by circumstances," Mongtomery said.
Because of the ongoing investigation, Montgomery said he can’t release specific details about the employee, such as his age, how long he has been employed or why he was being disciplined.
You can call Herald Writer Cathy Logg at 425-339-3437
or send e-mail to logg@heraldnet.com.
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