SUPERIOR – During a traffic stop on Aug. 15, the owner of the vehicle was charged with a felony after eight guns, drugs and counterfeit money were found in the trunk.
Antonio Eugene Moreno, 54, of Superior, made his initial appearance in Douglas County District Court on Wednesday, August 20. He is charged with possession of methamphetamine and narcotics, eight counts of possession of a firearm by a foreign felon, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Moreno was held on bail of $7,500, with conditions that he not possess any firearms and not use or possess any controlled substances or drug-related paraphernalia without a prescription. He remained in custody at the Douglas County Jail as of August 21.
Detective Elijha Newton of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office noticed a vehicle without a front bumper traveling on Tower Avenue near North 21st Street. While following the vehicle, Newton noticed a man in the passenger seat making movements as if he was trying to hide or retrieve weapons or contraband, according to the criminal complaint.
Article / Douglas County Jail
Newton stopped the vehicle and a detection dog unit determined that controlled substances were present, the indictment says.
On the passenger side of the vehicle, officers said they found 186 grams of marijuana, glass pipes, marijuana vaporizers, a digital scale and small plastic bags with white residue.
In the trunk, officers found eight guns, gun parts, including a silencer, BB guns and a flare gun, the complaint states. They also reported finding a bag containing 0.67 grams of methamphetamine, a container containing 11.25 grams of fentanyl, two containers of suspected marijuana wax and four counterfeit $100 bills.
Moreno’s next court date is scheduled for August 28. The weapons charges, which are Class G felonies, each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000.
A photo of K-9 Talon sitting next to the weapons, drugs and cash seized from Moreno’s vehicle was posted on the sheriff’s office Facebook page.
“Although we are understaffed, officers are working diligently to detect this type of criminal behavior. They have taken a lot of drugs and guns off the streets this year,” said Douglas County Sheriff Matt Izzard.
He said the addition of a third police dog to the department has helped tremendously. He also praised the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office for its aggressive prosecution of all types of criminal cases.
Maria Lockwood reports news from Douglas County, Wisconsin, for the Superior Telegram.
