Santa Rosa Traffic Stop Yields Gang, Weapons Arrests
SANTA ROSA (CBS SF) - Santa Rosa police arrested two gang members for possession of stolen firearms during a traffic stop Wednesday night, and then found ammunition and holsters early this morning in a search of their homes.
Around 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, an officer observed a vehicle weaving in out of its lane near the intersection of Range Avenue and Piner Road.
The officer stopped the vehicle for the traffic violation near State Farm Drive and McBride Lane.
The officer, a former gang investigator, recognized the driver, 23-year-old Santa Rosa resident Misael Gutierrez, from previous contacts, police said. Gutierrez was driving on a suspended license.
Police searched Gutierrez and his passenger, Benjamin Cervantes, also 23, of Santa Rosa, and found a handgun in Cervantes' waistband.
Officers searched the car and found another handgun in the trunk.
Gang Crime Investigations Team detectives assisted patrol officers in the case. Investigators contacted the registered owner of the firearms in Yolo County and discovered that the guns had been stolen about a month ago, according to police.
Police searched the suspects' homes early this morning and found ammunition and holsters at Cervantes' home in the 2300 block of McBride Lane.
Gutierrez was arrested for possession of a handgun in public by a gang member, driving on a suspended license, possession of stolen property, committing a felony while out on bail, and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Cervantes was arrested for possession of a handgun in public by a gang member, prohibited possession of a firearm and possession of stolen property.
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