Sun Prairie Police Seize Illegal Machine Gun and Arrest Local Man Following License Plate Reader Alert

Sun Prairie officers arrested Keyonte M. Barksdale and seized a modified machine gun after an automated alert flagged a vehicle linked to a stolen car probe.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 20, 2026, 6:28 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from WMTV 15 News

Automated Alert Leads to High-Stakes Traffic Stop

The Sun Prairie Police Department successfully utilized automated license plate reader technology to intercept a vehicle tied to an ongoing criminal investigation. At approximately 8:20 p.m. on Thursday, officers received an alert regarding a vehicle suspected of involvement in a stolen car ring. Law enforcement officials noted that the Dane County area has recently experienced a targeted spike in thefts involving Infiniti vehicles, which are frequently used to facilitate secondary crimes. Officers quickly located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop in the 1700 block of West Main Street, initially citing the driver for operating without a valid registration.

Search Uncovers Modified Weapon and Contraband

During the roadside interaction, officers reported the distinct odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle, providing probable cause for a comprehensive search. Upon inspecting the interior, police discovered a loaded .40 caliber handgun. Investigators determined the firearm was equipped with an "auto sear"—a conversion device that allows a semi-automatic weapon to fire fully automatically. Under Wisconsin statutes, this modification legally classifies the handgun as a machine gun. The weapon was further equipped with an extended magazine containing 18 rounds of ammunition. Additionally, officers recovered various other handgun magazines, extra ammunition, and Schedule II narcotics.

Suspect Facing Multiple Felony Charges

The driver, identified as 23-year-old Keyonte M. Barksdale of Sun Prairie, was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Dane County Jail. Following the discovery of the illegal weaponry and drugs, the Sun Prairie Police Department referred a significant list of charges to the Dane County District Attorney’s Office. These include possession of a machine gun, felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. Barksdale is also facing charges of bail jumping and possession of drug paraphernalia.