see your hands. Let me see your hands. Let me see your hands. >> I'll explain in just a second. >> Five or six uh fully loaded like ARs, shotguns. So, there's one of the ARs. You can see fully loaded. >> You're under arrest. >> Wednesday, October 4th, 2023, F, Washington. What began as a simple windshield repair turned into the discovery of one of the most disturbing illegal arsenals ever found in Pierce County. Inside a bullet riddled Mazda, auto shop employees came across something no mechanic expects to see. Automatic weapons, explosives, and military tactical gear. But who was responsible? And what connection did he have to the vehicle he left behind? I'm Tyler, and this is your daily dose of crime. Make sure that you never miss a case. Be sure to subscribe to Daily Dose of Crime right now and join the investigation in the comments below. We'll be waiting for you there. See your hands? Let me see your hands. Let me see your hands. >> Keep your hands up. >> Hands. >> Turn around. >> Keep your hands up. >> Don't Don't make any movements. Hold on. >> Keep your hands up. >> Hold on. I'll explain. 10 time. >> I'll put him in my car. >> All right, boss. Right there. See that SUV right there? What's going on? I'll explain in just a second. Let's get in the back. Do you have any weapons on you? >> No. Right now. Oh, I didn't know that was on. >> Seriously, I forgot that was on >> behind you. >> That you're under arrest for weapons violations, unlawful possession. too long. >> I'm sure it is. You're being audio and video recorded. >> How is that legal? >> How is it legal that they're like that? What? >> Probably. >> Uh, you're a convicted felon. Oh, >> yeah. >> What's your name? radio. >> Hang on. When officers arrive on scene, the employees point to the Mazda marked with bullet holes and explain that the driver had hidden in the bathroom as soon as he noticed the police. Inside, officers detain a visibly agitated man who identifies himself as Brady Lee Els, a federal ex-convict with a record for unlawful firearm possession. During the search, the officers find two loaded handguns inside his coat, one of them fitted with an automatic firing mechanism, immediately elevating the case to federal jurisdiction. >> Listen up, man. All right. >> Okay. >> I'm going to read your rights. You've had those read to you before, so I just want to read them to you now. All right. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say could be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer, have him present with you or be in question. You cannot afford to hire a lawyer. Want to be represent uh one will be appointed to represent you for any question if you wish. You can decide any time to exercise these rights, answer questions, or make any statements. Okay? Do you understand those rights or Okay. Um we we're willing to talk to you just having your rights in mind. Okay. Okay. >> [clears throat] >> here. >> Before we even got out of our car, the employee came out and said, "Hey, follow me into the bathroom right now." I was like, "Yeah, this is where he's dumping them." So, >> this is cool. Let's take him out and let him. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know who called about the car? >> So, is his vehicle still in? >> Yeah. Yeah. Come here. Come take a look. >> It's not open or anything, is it? We shut the trunk after. >> We'll leave that shut since it is shut. >> Okay. But I got a picture I can show you. He had at least six pull. This is his car right here. He had at least >> five or six uh fully loaded like ARs, shotguns. He was really panicked about us uh getting in there. So there's one of the ARs you can see fully loaded. There's another one. Another one. Another one. Yeah. when he dropped off like he he was he he was very just like I was like are you staying waiting at shop or you dropping off for a little bit? He goes, "No, I'll be here." Um but then he said, "Is there any reason why you need to open the trunk?" And I was like, "Um, I don't know. Is it a a hatchback?" I'm thinking, you know, maybe we have to lift up the trunk with the glass. And we said, "No." And I said, "I'm not sure. I'll check with the tech, but I don't think so." So I had Tristan go out and evaluate it from the inside out. >> I mean, it's been there a while, but still like that really with his sketchiness and then all that. Just Yeah, >> perfect. And I will uh we'll have detectives come out and talk to you. We'll leave it here. Don't open it up and leave it right there. >> Yeah, >> we're going to end up having to impound it for a search warrant. So, >> yeah, those being loaded, we hid the keys away from the vehicle. I didn't want them coming back here and trying anything. >> Perfect. Awesome. Thank you. >> Where's this Where's this guy's car? driver's license. So, we can't do that. Apparently, we don't want the trunk. There's a bullet hole in the front. >> I ran the gun into full rec. >> I just sent the other officer a picture, but I mean, there's a fully loaded AR. Another one there. There's one hidden back here. There's another one there. in the front when I grab the registration. [laughter] >> Right. There's a bullet hole on the side coming from the inside. That's >> So, we're going to have a tow truck come pick this thing up. We can't go inside it anymore. >> You want keys? >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> And uh is it possible to get the tow truck on the roof? >> Just on the roof's perfect. >> Thanks you guys. And um whoever had the most dealings with them probably going to have to do a statement and then whoever went into the car is going to have to do a little quick written statement. It's nothing crazy. Just number. >> Oh, we're not Yeah, I don't worry about that. Just anybody who went into the car, what they observed, what he said to you. Nothing crazy. Just to use the bathroom cuz when um dispatch is on the phone with Grunt, she couldn't remember what age and he was like, "Oh, Tony, he's 38. He has tattoos. He does this. He does this. told me his whole life story before he walked out the door. So, the guy there might have a little bit more information. >> Gotcha. >> Unfortunately. >> All right, we'll get we'll get >> chatty. I guess >> he's a chatty Cathy. >> You guys were just going to do the window on the back. Yeah, we called yesterday what can I do there? >> Yeah, we opened the trunk and we're like, okay, we got to call the non-emergency. >> Yeah, because these all the all the guns you guys saw is in the trunk. >> Yeah. >> Well, we we didn't dig. We just >> just the ones you noticed. >> There was a clip in the glove box when I grabbed the registration. >> There was a mag in the box. When I when I went out and talked [snorts] to him, he opened it up for me and showed me and then he tried to like cover everything up. So that's why there's a bunch of on top of everything. >> I got you. >> So who got it? Who who uh witnessed the guns in the car? We all >> I we all did, but I I was the one who broke it around and I talked to him and I probably >> After securing the suspect, police sweep the workshop and find two additional firearms hidden inside the bathroom. The employees recount that before officers arrived, they had opened the trunk of the Mazda and found rifles, bulletproof vests, masks, and a suspicious bag. They also remember Elsa's repeated request that they not touch the vehicle, a remark that prompted them to call 911. With that information, officers seal the car and obtain a search warrant. A background check quickly confirms that Elts previously served 5 years in federal prison and had been caught before with a fake police uniform and military credentials. Given the severity of the findings, the case is transferred to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, which began tracing the weapons and investigating possible interstate links. >> I didn't get a chance. How did you know it was him? Did you I didn't see a picture of him. >> Saw the description. I didn't see a picture. I just saw black, white male. >> I was in global name search. I did global name search. I searched the name. I found a jail booking photo of him from 2017. Neck pads. Okay. White male, 30s, matched. I did a quick search on him. Up one, theft one, bunch of other gun charges. Then I >> Yeah, I figured it was him when we saw when we saw him right here. And then he just casually walked in there and then the employee walks out. She's like, "Follow me. He's in the bathroom." I was like, "Nope, we're going to address this guy first." And as we're walking in, he's walking out and we're just like, >> "Well, that's good thing he walked out, right? Been had much different contact if he was still in there." >> Oh, yeah. >> I was actually getting ready to get the employees out. >> Barricaded subjects >> with autolock. That would be a nightmare. >> Yeah. >> All right then. >> Okay. Thanks, Chief. >> Yep. Is Pat out there kind of shacking calls up? Mercers. >> Him and Mercer. >> So, I'll hang out cuz I don't have a meeting until like 12. >> Okay. >> We won't need everybody here very long. >> Whatever. >> In the office doing paperwork. >> Well, guess what? When you get back, >> it's still there. >> It's still there waiting on you. [laughter] >> Believe me, I know. that all. So you see how she came out kind of panicked. >> Our threat is our threat is that guy and he's inside a bathroom and and worst case scenario. To me it's almost better that we keep >> to me it's almost better you keep him contained in the inside that bathroom. >> Get everybody else out. >> Get everybody else out. But we didn't have that luxury. So as soon as he he comes out, you notice his hands in his pocket. >> Yeah. >> So the Glock auto sear in and of itself is a fire. That is a machine gun. So that little piece of metal in his pocket is a machine gun by the ATF. >> Oh. So that in and of itself is a firearm. You've got an illegal firearm. So you got a machine gun there. You've got the machine gunlock. And then you've got the other pistol that was in the bathroom. >> So we've got one, two, >> three, >> three charges plus two machine guns. >> Yeah. >> So there's all those charges. Um, let's let's uh Is anybody going to interview him? Why don't you give it a go? uh reconfirm he remembers his rights. Read him again if you need to. See if he wants to talk. If he wants to talk, uh ask him, "Hey, man, what's uh what's going on today from start to finish?" See if he wants, but he's uh You understand you're under arrest at this point, right? >> I do. >> Okay. >> What What were you guys trying to >> No, you lawyered up. As soon as you lawyer up, I I I'm done. It shuts me down automatically. Okay. Okay. So, as soon as they say, "I want to talk to my lawyer, >> we're we're done." Regardless if they change their mind. >> Yeah. Don't Don't Yeah. Like I went back there and he's just like, "What do you guys want to talk about?" No, we're done. >> Yeah. It's a mystery. >> It's Yeah. >> It's a mystery for you. >> Yeah. Okay. >> So, don't even Oh, I just want to No, >> dude. You got one stolen gun. Two guns total, two auto sears. >> Uh, and then a trunk full of ARs, AKs, and shotguns. >> The one that he dumped in the bathroom cabinet, the stolen Glock had a six the 50 round drum on the bottom of it. Both of them had them had one chambered. So, whoever he is, he's he's expecting some some sort of play from somebody. >> Firefight. >> Some sort of firefight. >> Or you supply the name game right now or what? >> Nope. >> Lawyered up though right away. So, >> okay. >> And there's a clip in the glove box cuz I grabbed a registration. >> Okay. >> Oh my god. >> Yeah. Good lord. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. From the inside. >> Mhm. That don't sketch nobody out, right? >> Maybe there was like a >> Yeah. Yeah. >> angry bird or something up there. I don't >> sure. I don't [laughter] >> Oh, don't freak out and say you don't want anyone. Do you need to open the trunk? You can't see the trunk. >> Yeah. >> Try to move stuff. >> Good call. Very good call. >> Yeah. This is just a little too. >> Thank you guys for coming. >> Cuz we were about to kick him down the road. >> I was like, I remember about 20 minutes before I told him we can't do the job. Just that's I don't want that on my hand. >> No, that hit every red flag. Imagine. >> Oh yeah, sure. >> But first thing I did was run the bin and so I was like, all right, it does pull up as a monster. So I don't know about that. >> The full vehicle search confirms the scope of the threat. The trunk contains five more firearms, including a stolen rifle converted to fully automatic fire and two improvised explosive devices. One a military simulator stolen from the US Army. The other a cardboard tube packed with black powder. The inventory also lists hundreds of rounds of ammunition, GPS trackers, knives, a voice-changing device, and tactical equipment, painting the portrait of someone preparing for a confrontation rather than self-defense. Forensic experts determined that the explosives were functional and that several of the weapons had been reported stolen in multiple counties, confirming an illegal acquisition network. From that point forward, Elts is classified as a high-risisk federal priority, and his case is formally transferred to the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington. It's >> not like they're going to rush to get rid of it. Do you have anything on you that's going to injure near you? I >> hope not. >> What might you have on you? What might injure you? >> I don't know. I don't think I have anything. I don't know what they grab. Oh, >> you have any needles? >> No. >> We searched it pretty good. So, I think you'll be fine. Just do your uh required search for train. >> There's a watch. Has a watch. >> It's got a watch on. Get that out of the jail. >> Yeah. That'll be fine. Step up, please. Okay. Uh there's some a lot of guns in the car, I guess. But we're going to take >> one of the car. >> He's getting his window fixed. >> They open the back of the truck. They're like a lot of guns in here. >> Yeah. And they were like, "Huh, we should call the police. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat up See if I can All right, sir. Please watch your head. Watch your step getting down. There you go. Thank you, sir. Right this way. All right. Watch your step here. See the red feet. If you do me a favor, stand in those. Face back the way we just came. I know we've already been searched multiple times, but I have to do it again for them. Is there anything that we missed? Anything else that gives you more trouble to make it inside the jail? Oh. Oh, it's a little metal on your pants. It's a button. It's a little oversized. Caught my attention there for a second. Go on. Turn around, sir. Step on in. The arrest of Brady Lee Elts ended a decade of repeat offenses defined by obsession and the systematic accumulation of prohibited weaponry. What began with a phone call from concerned workers evolved into a joint operation between local police, the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, and the ATF dismantling an arsenal capable of mass destruction. In November of 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Elts and two months later, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of firearms and a machine gun. On June 27th, 2024, Judge David G. Estado sentenced him to four years in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release, describing his conduct as alarming and extremely dangerous. He's currently serving a sentence at the federal prison camp in Duth, Minnesota with a projected release date of February 2027. Beyond the punishment, the case exposed critical gaps in monitoring armed repeat offenders and the ongoing danger posed by individuals who, like Els managed to rebuild an arsenal in silence.