Man arrested, accused of illegally 3D printing guns in Rockledge home

ROCKLEDGE, Fla. – Police have been investigating possible “illegal firearm manufacturing and hazardous materials” this week at a Rockledge home.

Patrick Carman, 33, was arrested Tuesday after calling Rockledge police to his home in the 800 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, according to an arrest affidavit.

Carman told the responding officer that his girlfriend had stolen multiple firearms from him, yet he could not provide any information about the woman, where she was, “Or if she was even the one who took the firearms,” the affidavit states.

Carman then showed the officer pictures on his cellphone of four “Glock 19 model firearms” that he allegedly built himself using a 3D printer, stating they were the stolen guns, police said.

The officer saw that Carman was still in possession of a manufactured pink Glock 19 “that was converted to a submachine gun” and had a magazine inserted with 15 rounds of 9mm, according to the affidavit. Carman reportedly referred to the firearm as a fun project he was working on, the affidavit states.

After looking him up, the officer saw Carman was on inmate release status for multiple felonies, prompting his arrest on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, according to the affidavit.

Around 5 p.m. Wednesday, police said on social media that they were conducting an investigation on Pennsylvania Avenue. Police said they were assisted at the scene by ATF and by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad and hazmat.

Rockledge Community Correspondent James Sparvero asked neighbor Jessica Smith how frightening it was to have a big investigation on her street.

“It was pretty terrifying,” she said. “We were all thinking, I don’t know, hazardous material, what could it be? And then, it turned out to be weapons.”

Rockledge police confirmed Thursday that Wednesday’s investigation was centered around a search warrant for Carman’s home, wherein was found “several firearms, ammunition, firearms manufacturing equipment, and a multitude of firearm parts, including: handgun frames and rifle lower receivers, homemade gun magazines, ‘full-auto switches’ used to convert guns to full automatic firing, make-shift silencers/suppressors, and bulk materials to mass produce said items,” a news release states.

The sheriff’s office’s bomb squad and hazmat team were called to the home after investigators located “unknown hazardous chemicals,” police said, adding the scene was made safe by their efforts.

At his first appearance in court, Carman was given a $15,000 bond on the firearm-possession charge and a release on recognizance on the ammunition-possession charge. He’s due back in court on Oct. 16 for arraignment, records show.

“You’re not to possess any firearms, any ammunition, or any weapons,” Judge Kim Musselman told him.

An investigation is ongoing, police said.

Anyone with any more information regarding the investigation is asked to contact Rockledge police at 321-690-3988, ext 3215.