Morro Bay police arrest man after gun, drugs allegedly found during traffic stop

Morro Bay police arrested a convicted felon on Wednesday after he was allegedly found with a loaded firearm, burglary tools and fentanyl during a traffic stop.

Sean Alexander Steele, 40, was stopped near Marina Street and Morro Avenue when police pulled him over on suspicion of impaired driving, according to a Morro Bay Police Department news release.

During the stop, an officer allegedly saw a firearm in plain view below the steering wheel. Police removed Steele from the vehicle, where a search later found the live pistol, as well as rifle ammunition and magazines, drugs and paraphernalia, the release said.

During a records check, police found that Steele was a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition, according to the release.

Steele was arrested and booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail on suspicion of charges of possession of a firearm, ammunition, loaded large capacity magazines, burglary tools, drug paraphernalia and a switchblade, as well as suspected sale or transportation of drugs.

As of Saturday, Steele no longer appeared to be in custody, according to the Sheriff’s Office’s Who’s in Custody website.

This story was originally published June 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM.