Would-Be Good Samaritan Booked on Weapons Charges

Richard Sampson just wanted to be a good Samaritan.

But the 37-year-old Covina man was arrested Wednesday night and booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a loaded firearm and possession of illegal weapons after he pulled an AR-15 on a man who allegedly flashed neighborhood children, police said.

Sheriff’s deputies driving past the scene in the 600 block of East Cypress Street in Covina saw the men and arrested Sampson and Michael Snow, 19.

Snow, who was not armed, was booked on suspicion of indecent exposure and released by Thursday. Sampson remained in custody in lieu of $75,000 bail, said Covina Police Lt. Kim Raney.

After interviewing Sampson, police learned he had “quite a collection” of weapons, Raney said.

Police recovered 15 additional assault weapons and more than 20,000 rounds of ammunition from Sampson’s home.

Sampson told police had confronted the alleged flasher after two neighborhood children, ages 11 and 14, went to Sampson’s home to tell him that a man exposed himself to them on the street near his home.