WATSONVILLE — A Watsonville man pulled over for a traffic violation was arrested Friday after police reportedly found an unregistered gun in his vehicle.
According to Watsonville Police, around 6:25 p.m., Officer Noe Rocha conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Jaime Torres, 23, for a traffic violation on Freedom Boulevard near Blanca Lane. After searching the vehicle, Rocha reportedly located an unregistered loaded firearm, three loaded magazines and a substantial amount of marijuana.
The WPD Investigations Bureau assisted in the investigation and drafted a search warrant for Torres’s residence. Officers served the search warrant and located seven additional firearms, including an assault rifle, all of which were unregistered. Officers also located a high capacity magazine.
Torres was arrested for possession of a loaded firearm in public, possession of an unregistered assault rifle, and possession of a high capacity magazine. He was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the WPD Investigation Division at 768-3350 or the Crime Tip Line at 768-3544.
