[Quote]:

Seattle police are investigating an assault rifle that was left on the trunk of a patrol car – found only after two people flagged down separate officers to alert them.

The incident happened Monday night, and the patrol car with the gun on the back was photographed in the 1500 block of Seventh Avenue, near The Cheesecake Factory and The Roosevelt hotel.

Police started the investigation after the person who took the photo sent the image to The Stranger. It was posted on Slog, the alternative newspaper’s blog, at 5:21 a.m. Monday with a short description of the incident.

It was reposted on Slog at 9:51 a.m. with police spokesman Sean Whitcomb saying the department is “very embarrassed that this happened.”