Police said Thursday that they have recovered an assault rifle and a shotgun that were stolen last month from APD Detective Zach Stephenson.
On Thursday morning, the Journal published a story saying that thieves had broken into Stephenson's unmarked, city-owned pickup truck in the parking lot of the Puerto del Sol golf course on Oct. 26 and made off with the rif le, "f lashbang" distraction devices and a shotgun that fires Taser prongs -- all APD-owned -- and Stephenson's personal bulletproof body armor and other items.
Deputy Police Chief Paul Feist said the f lash-bang device and Stephenson's personally owned items were not recovered.
"The weapons were recovered through investigation and information that came from a confidential informant," department spokeswoman Tasia Martinez wrote in an email. "There have not been any arrests in this case. As the investigation develops, more information will be released."
Earlier this week, Feist said all APD officers were notified of the theft after it occurred through an internal alert. On Thursday, he said no alert was sent out.
Stephenson's chain of command is conducting an "internal review" to determine whether the detective was negligent in any way.
Feist said the review is focused on whether Stephenson was on duty; whether the items stolen should have been in an undercover pickup truck and whether they were secured inside it; and whether Stephenson violated any department policies.
Feist has said it appears Stephenson got off work at 4:30 p.m., and the theft took place around 5 p.m. And he has said the truck was locked and the weapons were covered.
Copyright 2012 - Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
