MACHINE GUNS AND DRUGS SEIZED FROM BURGLARY SUSPECT’S EAST COUNTY HOME

East County News Service 

June 28, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- A man suspected in a series of burglaries at a self-storage facility is behind bars after stolen items, including firearms, were found in his East County home, says Lieutenant Shawn Wray.

Detectives from the Lakeside Sheriff's Substation had been investigating burglaries from several units at Ace Self Storage in the 9600 block of Winter Gardens Boulevard in Lakeside.  The investigation led to the identification of a suspect who lived in Ramona.

On Monday, June 27 around 2:00 p.m., deputies from the Lakeside Sheriff's Substation, as well as from the Santee Sheriff's Station, Alpine Sheriff's Station and Ramona Sheriff's Substation, served a search warrant at a home in the 1800 block of El Cajon Lane in Ramona.  They were assisted by deputies from the Sheriff's Special Enforcement Detail (SED/SWAT).

Once inside the home, deputies recovered 46 firearms.  Many of the firearms are assault weapons and fully automatic machine guns that are illegal to possess.

Some of the recovered firearms had also been previously reported as stolen, according to Lt. Wray.

Also seized during the search were other illegal weapons (such as brass knuckles and batons) and more than 45 grams of methamphetamine.

Troy Eberhart, 36, was arrested on numerous charges, including possession of a machine gun, converting a firearm to a machine gun, and felon in possession of a firearm and narcotics (meth).

Eberhart was booked into the Vista Detention Facility.