After an investigative stop by a Department of Fish and Game warden, Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Hemet resident Marc Morris, 44, in an off-road area of Mountain Center closed to vehicular traffic on charges of being a felon in possession of explosives, a live detonator, a handgun and ammunition.
The DFG warden stopped Morris at about 7 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 23. A consent search of Morris’ vehicle revealed a loaded .44 caliber handgun, ammunition and explosives.
The game warden then contacted the Sheriff’s Department who dispatched deputies and bomb technicians from the department’s Hazardous Device Team. Upon arrival team technicians confirmed that the explosive device in Morris car had a live detonator.
According to a Sheriff’s Department’s press release, a subsequent search of Morris’ residence did not reveal any additional explosives.
Morris is being held at the Larry D. Smith Correction Facility in Banning on $15,000 bail. His next scheduled court date is on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.
Anyone with any information about this incident is urged to call investigating Deputy Robert Anderson at (951) 955-1700.
