A Morongo Valley woman was arrested Monday during a burglary investigation when she was found in possession of a stolen handgun. According to reports from the Sheriff’s Department, a resident in the 5200 block of Border Avenue in Joshua Tree came home about 1:30 p.m. Monday to discover her front door had been kicked in and her home had been burglarized. Among the items reported stolen was a handgun. During the investigation, deputies developed a lead that brought them to the parking lot at Walmart about 6 p.m. Deputies found two suspects inside a pickup truck and ordered them out at gun point. Inside the truck was Melissaan Larson, 38, and a 35-year-old man, also from Morongo Valley. Deputies located the stolen gun inside the truck. Mellissaan Larson was arrested for investigation of being a felon in possession of a handgun, booked at the Morongo Basin Jail, with her bail set at $50,000. The man was arrested for being in possession of stolen property, but was released and charges are not expected to be filed against him. The burglary investigation is ongoing.
