A routine follow-up by San Mateo County Sheriff's deputies on a Child Protective Services case on Monday led to an unexpected discovery and subsequent arrest in Half Moon Bay. According to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, a convicted felon was found to possess several firearms, including assault rifles, large quantities of ammunition, firearm accessories, illegal fireworks, and a ballistic vest.
The events began last Saturday when deputies were called to Wavecrest Rd. for a welfare check connected to a CPS case. Further investigations led deputies to secure warrants for locations linked to 41-year-old Marcel T. Dodge, who, due to a past conviction, was prohibited from owning or handling firearms and related paraphernalia. On serving the warrants, law enforcement discovered three assault rifles, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, multiple gun parts, and a cache of dangerous fireworks, necessitating the Bomb Unit's intervention for safe removal.
After the discoveries, Dodge was taken into custody and is now facing multiple charges, including seven counts of Felon in Possession of Firearms and three counts of Possession of Assault Weapons, among others. The Sheriff’s Office indicated that Dodge also had possession of an illegal ballistic vest and fireworks without a proper permit. His booking into the Maguire Correctional Facility was completed promptly following the arrest.
Community safety remains a top priority for the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. They encouraged anyone with further details about the case to contact the Office directly at 650-363-4911 or to leave an anonymous tip at 1-800-547-2700.
