Traffic Stop Leads to Meth Bust, Seizure of ‘Ghost Gun’ in Pasadena

Pasadena police recovered this unserialized “ghost gun,” along with a “large amount” of methamphetamine following a traffic stop on Oct. 22, 2020. (Credit: Pasadena Police Department)

Police seized a “large amount” of methamphetamine, as well as an unserialized ‘ghost gun,’ following what began as a traffic stop in Pasadena on Thursday night, officials said.

Officers pulled over a car for a traffic violation about 9:30 p.m. at Del Bar Boulevard and Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena police Lt. William Grisafe said. A man was driving and a woman was riding as a passenger.

The officers found the woman was on probation for a narcotics-related conviction an searched the car, according to the lieutenant.

“A large amount of methamphetamine was discovered,” Grisafe said. He declined to discuss the specific amount as the investigation continued Friday morning.

Police then carried out a search at a nearby motel where the man and woman had been staying, he said. Inside, they found a loaded, unserialized handgun commonly referred to as a ‘ghost gun.”

Benjamin Patrick Botnick, 27, of Tujunga, who has been driving the car stopped by police, was arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs for sales and weapon-related violations, according to police and Los Angeles County booking records. The woman was not arrested.

Botnick was released from custody with a citation pending legal proceedings, records show.