Police Find Zip Gun, Narcotics In Palm Springs Traffic Stop Search, Suspect Behind Bars

PALM SPRINGS, CA — Palm Springs Police have arrested a 65-year-old man for alleged possession of an illegal firearm and narcotics, the department shared Tuesday.

Michael Ernest Murphy, of Desert Hot Springs, was booked into the Benoit Detention Center in Indio on suspicion of possession of a zip gun, narcotics and drug paraphernalia, according to the sheriff's department. He was slated to appear in court on Wednesday to answer charges at the Indio Larson Justice Center.

Just after 11:15 a.m. Monday, police made a "proactive stop" of Murphy's vehicle near the intersection of North Indian Canyon Drive and Vista Chino, according to the Palm Springs Police Department.

During a subsequent search, they allegedly found roughly "17.75 grams of suspected methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and an improvised 12-gauge firearm commonly referred to as a zip gun," police said.

Bail information was not immediately available.