Early Thursday morning, the quiet of Lemon Grove was pierced by the sound of law enforcement on the hunt for suspected thieves. Around 6 a.m., deputies from the North Coastal Sheriff's Station tracked down a black BMW linked to a string of e-bike thefts. It was parked outside a house on Colfax Drive, and the man allegedly behind the wheel of the crime spree, Richard Benedict, was apprehended just as he attempted to enter the vehicle.

Inside the car, deputies were met with the sight of drugs and ammunition. The discovery led to a search warrant for the house where Benedict was staying. According to a statement released by the Sheriff's Office, officers found a cache of five firearms, ammunition of various calibers, narcotics, and a ghost gun—unserialized and untraceable. Benedict, who celebrates his birthday less than two months from now, was arrested on multiple counts, including a felony warrant, felony evading, weapons theft, and narcotics violations.

But the day's sweep didn't stop with Benedict. Three associates were also rounded up in the crackdown. David Martinez, born in the mid-'90s, was arrested on a felony warrant for weapons violations. Alain Sayvongsa, a baby of the late '70s, faced weapons and narcotics charges. Annette Soyinthisane, whose ID would show an '87 birth year, was picked up for a felony warrant and weapons violations, too. These arrests have dealt a significant blow to what appears to have been a small-scale criminal operation running out of Lemon Grove.

As the investigation unfolds, the Sheriff's Department is not closing the book on this case just yet. They urge anyone with information to come forward and reach out to the North Coastal Sheriff's Station at (760) 966-3500. The community's help, they believe, could be key in preventing such crimes from plaguing their streets again. Sergeant Thomas Fletcher, a contact for the media, points concerned citizens to the official statement for further details on the ongoing case.