4-Time Convicted Felon Found in Possession of Two Firearms, One Stolen, and Methamphetamine
Spokane Valley Deputies arrested the driver of a vehicle, and convicted felon, after a stolen .357 Glock pistol was located during a traffic stop. The vehicle was seized and Spokane Valley Investigative Unit (SVIU) Detectives applied for and were granted a search warrant. SVIU Detectives located a second pistol which was loaded and Methamphetamine.
On February 19, 2019, at approximately 11:05 p.m., Sergeant Elliott conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle for defective license plate lamp and an obstructed license plate in the 12200 block of E. Sprague in Spokane Valley.
As he contacted the driver, later identified as 31-year-old Miroslav Veselinovic, Sergeant Elliott observed Veselinovic appeared to be exhibiting signs of CNS (Central Nervous System) influence and a zippered satchel/pouch and a large folding knife within arm’s reach and in open view. He also observed a camouflage, full-face neoprene ski mask lying on the passenger’s side floorboard and a large flashlight on the front passenger’s seat along with a pair of black gloves. When Sergeant Elliott returned to his patrol car, he observed Veselinovic lean back, and reach to the right, in what appeared to be an effort to conceal or retrieve items (possibly weapons/drugs) in the vehicle.
A check of Veselinovic’s name revealed he is a convicted felon (Robbery-2013, Riot with a Deadly Weapon-2013, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm-2018 and Possession of a Controlled Substance-2019) and prohibited from possessing firearms.
With this information and Veselinovic’s furtive movements, Sergeant Elliott contacted Veselinovic and conducted a frisk for weapons of Veselinovic and the vehicle’s lunge area.
An unloaded .357 Glock pistol, a loaded .40 caliber Smith and Wesson magazine to a different firearm was located inside the black pouch. A second firearm was observed sitting under the rear passenger seat in a position where a driver could have easily retrieved it.
Sergeant Elliott ended the search and informed Veselinovic he was under arrest for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. With a check of the Glock’s serial number, Sergeant Elliott learned the owner reported the pistol stolen to the Lewiston Police Department in 2017. The vehicle was secured and impounded pending a search warrant.
Veselinovic was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm 1st Degree and Possession of a Stolen Firearm.
On February 20, 2019, just before noon, SVIU Detective Roger Knight executed a search warrant on Veselinovic’s vehicle. He recovered the second firearm, a loaded .40 caliber Smith and Wesson, observed by Sergeant Elliott. He also located a zippered pouch under the rear seat which was found to contain a white crystalline powdery substance which was tested later, showing a positive presumptive result for Methamphetamine.
The .40 caliber pistol did not show as reported stolen.
Detective Knight added additional charges of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine to the list of Veselinovic’s charges.
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Corporal Mark Gregory
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
Spokane Valley Police Department
Public Information Officer