Christopher R. Ponte, a so-called cop watcher who has drawn the ire of local officials for visiting and filming the homes of the former police chief, a police supervisor and Multnomah County prosecutor, has now been accused in federal court of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

A Portland police detective started a criminal investigation into Ponte in July after learning Ponte was pictured on his Facebook page firing a shotgun, according to a federal complaint.

Ponte, who was convicted in 2016 of possession of a stolen vehicle, a felony, is not allowed to possess or use a firearm, the complaint says.

"They are trying to silence cop watchers, so they targeted me and fished for a case against me,'' Ponte said Monday.

According to the complaint, Ponte was photographed firing guns with a co-worker at a campsite off Oregon 224 in Clackamas County in January.

Ponte wrote on Facebook, "More work peeps blastin off some rounds.''

Investigators found a video posted to Ponte's Facebook account that showed Ponte firing five rounds from a shotgun at the campsite.

The unidentified Portland police detective contacted Ponte's co-worker, who told police he would go shooting with his co-workers at the site pictured in the videos and photos. At one point, Ponte was holding his co-worker's Uzi Pro Pistol, according to the co-worker who is not named in the complaint. Ponte also was captured holding and firing a co-worker's AK-47, according to the complaint.

The Portland detective investigated the case with help from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The federal charge was issued Nov. 15. Ponte, 36, was arrested in Milwaukie that night and appeared briefly in U.S. District Court in Portland the next day. He was released on conditions and is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 15.

Ponte, who started a police watchdog group called Oregon Cop Block, has previously posted a video on his Facebook page of a nearly 19-minute traffic stop by a Columbia County sheriff's deputy of him and others after the group had driven away from former Portland police Chief Mike Marshman's home earlier this year.

Portland police Capt. Mark Kruger obtained a stalking order against Ponte in Washington County after Ponte showed up at Kruger's house July 10. Ponte also was cited for trespass recently in Multnomah County, accused of going to Deputy District Attorney Ryan Lufkin's home and ringing his doorbell despite a sign that warned "unauthorized persons'' not to step on the property. Ponte said he went to Lufkin's home to ask him about statements he made about the prosecution of fellow copwatcher Eli Richey.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian