(Photo courtesy of Watsonville Police Department: Police recovered this revolver after a 14-year-old boy tossed it during a brief chase.)
WATSONVILLE — A Watsonville teen was arrested Thursday after fleeing from a traffic stop and tossing a loaded handgun, Watsonville Police Sgt. Juan Trujillo said.
According to Trujillo, Watsonville Police officers stopped a vehicle with four occupants aboard at East Lake Avenue and Holohan Road at about 11:20 a.m.
As the vehicle came to a stop, a 14-year-old juvenile opened the rear door and ran from the car holding his waistband, Trujillo said.
One of the officers chased the juvenile while the other stayed with the vehicle and remaining occupants.
The juvenile ran for three blocks, before stumbling as he turned a corner. He then tripped and tossed a loaded revolver he had concealed in his waistband.
The chasing officer caught up to the juvenile and arrested him.
The remaining occupants of the vehicle were detained and identified as a second 14-year-old juvenile and two adults.
One of the adults, 24-year-old Albert Mendoza, was arrested for violating his gang probation terms.
