Crime

SLO man arrested after police allegedly find ghost gun, suspected meth in search

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A San Luis Obispo resident was arrested on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine and a ghost gun, the San Luis Obispo Police Department said Friday.

According to the release, police obtained a gun violence restraining order against James Mattison, 36, after his neighbors reported he approached them with a shotgun in the parking lot of their residence. The restraining order was issued on June 23.

Later that same day, Mattison called police to report a domestic violence dispute, the release said. When officers arrived, they served Mattison with the restraining order and searched his car, where they found one unloaded magazine.

On June 24, officers obtained a warrant and searched Mattison’s home in the 1400 block of Phillips Lane.

During the search, police found suspected methamphetamine, pipes and parts of firearms that appeared to have been 3D printed, the release said.

San Luis Obispo resident James Mattison, 36, was arrested on June 24, 2025, after officers found suspected methamphetamine, one ghost gun and 3-D printed firearm pieces, according to a news release.
San Luis Obispo resident James Mattison, 36, was arrested on June 24, 2025, after officers found suspected methamphetamine, one ghost gun and 3-D printed firearm pieces, according to a news release. Courtesy of the San Luis Obispo Police Department

Mattison had previously told officers he had two guns at his parents’ residence on Clover Lane, according to police.

During a search of that residence, police found one ghost gun — a firearm without a serial number — in addition to a handgun, ammunition, suspected methamphetamine and two 3D printers, the release said.

San Luis Obispo resident James Mattison, 36, was arrested on June 24, 2025, after officers found suspected methamphetamine, one ghost gun and 3-D printed firearm pieces, according to a news release.
San Luis Obispo resident James Mattison, 36, was arrested on June 24, 2025, after officers found suspected methamphetamine, one ghost gun and 3-D printed firearm pieces, according to a news release. Courtesty of the San Luis Obispo Police Department

Mattison was arrested on suspicion of four felonies and two misdemeanors, police said. He was released on July 2 on a post arraignment monitoring program.

Sadie Dittenber
The Tribune
Sadie Dittenber writes about education for The Tribune and is a California Local News Fellow through the UC Berkeley School of Journalism. Dittenber graduated from The College of Idaho with a degree in international political economy.
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