Convicted Drug Felon Threw Illegal Gun Out Window While Being Pursued by Law Enforcement
Gulfport, Miss. - Ronald Christopher Dressner, 41, of Nicholson, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden, to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On May 20, 2019, interdiction officers with the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Dressner for a stolen tag. When the officer attempted to stop the vehicle, Dressner would not stop, and a pursuit ensued. Dressner eventually stopped his vehicle and a passenger in the vehicle advised officers that she observed Dressner throw a silver and black handgun out of the passenger window. Officers returned to the location and discovered a Smith & Wesson,.40 caliber pistol loaded with five live rounds. When Dressner was interviewed, he ultimately admitted to throwing the firearm out of the window during the pursuit. Dressner had previous felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance in the Circuit Court of Pearl River County for which he was sentenced to serve 16 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Dressner will be sentenced by Judge Ozerden on Feb. 21, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. in Gulfport. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Jackson County South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team and The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
