Two loaded firearms were taken off Watsonville streets in two separate incidents over the weekend.
The first incident began during a routine traffic stop Friday night near downtown when Watsonville Police tried to stop a car driven by Juan Manuel Figueroa. Though he initially tried to outrun police, Figueroa eventually pulled over near Waters Alley and Sudden Street, said WPD spokeswoman Erika Vazquez.
Inside the car, police found multiple open alcohol containers, and, during a search of the area, police found a loaded firearm. Figueroa, 36, was arrested and booked into Santa Cruz County Jail on charges including evading an officer, carrying a loaded firearm, and driving under the influence.
Then, on Sunday evening, while on patrol in the 200 block of Clifford Avenue, an officer tried to contact 20-year-old Joseph Tellez, who is on probation. Tellez ran, prompting a brief foot chase before stopping. The officer took him into custody and found a loaded firearm nearby.
Tellez was arrested and booked into Santa Cruz County Jail for possession of a loaded firearm, resisting and obstructing an officer, and probation violation.
“These incidents highlight how proactive policing and quick decision-making can make a difference in keeping illegal firearms out of our community,” Vazquez said.
