Traffic Stop Leads to Multiple Charges

An Oregon State Police (OSP) traffic stop Friday night in Milton-Freewater led to the arrest of an armed wanted felon in a stolen car.

An OSP trooper stopped a Honda Prelude around 11:42 p.m. for failure to display a vehicle license plate in Milton-Freewater. Upon contact with the driver, Andrew Kenneth Thorson, 30, from Walla Walla, the trooper spotted a handgun in the driver side door storage compartment. Further investigation also led to the discovery a second handgun on the passenger seat.

Thorson was wanted on two felony probation violation warrants out of Umatilla County. While searching Thorson, the trooper also found a dagger concealed in one of his shoes.

When the trooper checked the vehicle’s identification number he learned the car was reported stolen out of Pendleton.

Thorson was lodged in the Umatilla County Jail on charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, two counts of felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, and two probation violations.