$50,000 Gun Cache Results in Arrest

Police seized nearly 200 firearms at a Porter Ranch home and arrested the owner, the culmination of a three-month investigation, police said.

Harry Noroian, of Falcon Crest Lane, was arrested after he allegedly bought guns from undercover detectives in the parking lot of a vacant business in the LAPD’s Devonshire Division area, said Det. Steve Mulldorfer, supervisor of LAPD’s Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Detail.

Noroian, 57, was held on suspicion of possession of illegal firearms and suspicion of possession of firearms with intent to sell, said Officer Jason Lee. He was released from Van Nuys jail on $10,000 bond, but he may be charged with a number of additional state and federal offenses, police said.

After the arrest Monday, police searched Noroian’s house in an “exclusive, gated community,” Mulldorfer said. They found more than $50,000 worth of weapons, including three assault-style rifles banned by state law and hundreds of ammunition magazines, including drum-type magazines that can hold up to 100 rounds. Police spent nearly 24 hours inventorying the seized property, Mulldorfer said.

Noroian bought and sold weapons at his home and on city streets for at least two years, Mulldorfer said. He had been a licensed gun dealer in Northern California but did not obtain a state or federal license when he moved here, Mulldorfer said.

Police suspect Noroian’s customers included people who can not legally purchase weapons, such as convicted felons, Mulldorfer said.

“If you’re dealing out of your car in a parking lot, it could easily wind up in the hands of a criminal,” Mulldorfer said.

Police are trying to connect weapons Noroian allegedly sold with crimes, which may lead to future charges. Mulldorfer refused to identify the crimes.

The youth gun detail, which works with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, was created by Chief Bernard Parks in November 1997.

“Our main mission is to interdict firearms reaching youth under 25 and reduce the injuries and deaths in that population,” Mulldorfer said.