Georgia Fugitive Facing Additional Charge For Illegally Modified Gun

Palm Coast, FL – A Georgia fugitive arrested in November after Flagler deputies found drugs, guns, and masks in his car is now facing an additional charge for one of the guns recovered by authorities. An email from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office says 23-year-old Benjamin Jacob Bowie is now facing an additional charge of possession of a short barreled firearm. The charge stems from a Glock 17 handgun that was seized during Bowie’s initial arrest on November 21—which also saw him charged with carrying a concealed firearm, resisting officer without violence, and possession of cannabis under 20g. Investigators say the Glock was later examined by personnel with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, who determined that the gun was illegally altered into a fully-automatic machine gun, which is against state and federal laws. “Traffic stops are never ‘routine’ and this case proves it,” Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Bowie was a wanted fugitive from Georgia armed with a gun he had converted to a machine gun. Our deputies did a phenomenal job handling this situation that could have turned deadly very quickly.” Bowie was first arrested on November 21 after deputies pulled Bowie over during a routine traffic stop. That led deputies to discover two firearms, magazines, and ammunition by the driver’s side floorboard, along with about 12 grams of marijuana. Also seized was two additional firearms, magazines, and ammunition in the trunk, along with a rubber skeleton face mask, and a black full-face knitted mask with mouth and eye holes. Bowie remains in custody without bond.