Two men arrested, police report stolen gun found in car

Mason City residents charged with stolen weapons trafficking

Staff report

Police arrested two Mason City men after locating a stolen pistol in their car Tuesday night.

Brandon Lee Baysinger and Hector Munoz III, both 19, were arrested after Charles City Police stopped Baysinger’s 2002 Toyota Corolla in the 100 block of 14th Avenue, according to a criminal complaint. Police said the 0.38 caliber pistol had been reported stolen Tuesday evening, and learned Baysinger and Munoz were linked to the theft before they were pulled over, the complaint said. The gun was found under the driver’s seat of Baysinger’s car.

“Brandon knew the gun was under the seat,” the complaint against Baysinger said. “When asked, he told officers where to find it.”

A complaint against Munoz alleges he stole the gun from a home. The two allegedly brought the gun to their Mason City apartment before returning to Charles City, where they were arrested. The two are charged with trafficking stolen weapons, a class D felony.

Bond for Munoz and Baysinger is set at $5,000 cash. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. March 11, at the Floyd County Courthouse.

The gun will be kept as evidence for the court process and be returned to the owners at a later date, the department said on its Facebook page.