License Plate Reader Leads to Arrest, Machine Gun Seizure on West Main Street
300 East Main Street
Sun Prairie, WI 53590-2227
Website: https://cityofsunprairie.com
Sun Prairie, WI 53590-2227
Website: https://cityofsunprairie.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 20, 2026
License Plate Reader Leads to Arrest, Machine Gun Seizure on West Main Street
Sun Prairie, WI - On Thursday, March 19, 2026, at approximately 8:20 p.m., the Sun Prairie Police Department received an automated license plate reader alert regarding a vehicle connected to a stolen vehicle investigation. Dane County has recently experienced an increase in Infiniti vehicles being stolen and used in other criminal activity. Officers located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop in the 1700 block of West Main Street for operating a motor vehicle without registration.
The driver and passenger were detained, and officers conducted a search of the vehicle based on the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. During the search, officers located a loaded .40 caliber handgun equipped with an auto sear, classifying it as a machine gun under Wisconsin Law. The firearm contained an extended magazine loaded with 18 rounds of live ammunition.
Officers also located multiple additional handgun magazines, ammunition, and other contraband inside the vehicle. Keyonte M. Barksdale, age 23 of Sun Prairie, was arrested and transported to the Dane County Jail. The Sun Prairie Police Department has referred the following charges to the Dane County District Attorney:
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Felony)
• Possessing a Machine Gun (Felony)
• Carrying a Concealed Weapon (Misdemeanor)
• Possession of a Schedule II Drug (Felony)
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Misdemeanor)
• Bail Jumping (Felony)
The use of automated license plate reader technology, combined with the quick response and thorough work of our officers, resulted in a loaded machine gun being removed from our streets. The Sun Prairie Police Department remains committed to using every available tool to identify and address criminal activity in our community.
Media Contact:
Lt. Ray Thomson
Sun Prairie Police Department
rthomson@cityofsunprairie.com
(608) 513-8506
The driver and passenger were detained, and officers conducted a search of the vehicle based on the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. During the search, officers located a loaded .40 caliber handgun equipped with an auto sear, classifying it as a machine gun under Wisconsin Law. The firearm contained an extended magazine loaded with 18 rounds of live ammunition.
Officers also located multiple additional handgun magazines, ammunition, and other contraband inside the vehicle. Keyonte M. Barksdale, age 23 of Sun Prairie, was arrested and transported to the Dane County Jail. The Sun Prairie Police Department has referred the following charges to the Dane County District Attorney:
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Felony)
• Possessing a Machine Gun (Felony)
• Carrying a Concealed Weapon (Misdemeanor)
• Possession of a Schedule II Drug (Felony)
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Misdemeanor)
• Bail Jumping (Felony)
The use of automated license plate reader technology, combined with the quick response and thorough work of our officers, resulted in a loaded machine gun being removed from our streets. The Sun Prairie Police Department remains committed to using every available tool to identify and address criminal activity in our community.
Media Contact:
Lt. Ray Thomson
Sun Prairie Police Department
rthomson@cityofsunprairie.com
(608) 513-8506
