Just a few days ago, on September 22, a seemingly mundane traffic stop took a turn when an unregistered assault weapon was discovered in a vehicle.
According to a Facebook post by PIO Deputy Rob Dillion, a deputy noticed a truck with a driver-side headlight malfunctioning and proceeded to pull over the vehicle. Upon inspection, the officer found two guns on the back seat floor, one appearing to be a handgun and the other an assault weapon, accompanied by a 35-round magazine loaded with 9mm rounds.
After another deputy arrived for assistance, the truck's occupants were detained for further investigation. Upon closer inspection, it was revealed that the handgun was, in fact, a BB gun, while the assault weapon was a fully operational gun. The assault weapon was classified as such under California law due to its specific features listed in penal code section 30515.
Through individual conversations with the driver, later identified as Jose Hernandez, 28, from Santa Rosa, and his passenger, it was determined that Hernandez was responsible for the presence of these guns. A subsequent records check revealed that the assault weapon remained unregistered.
As a result of this discovery, Hernandez was arrested and charged with several offenses, including felony unlawful possession of an assault weapon and possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, as well as a misdemeanor for possession of a high-capacity magazine. At the time of the incident, Hernandez was held in custody on $50,000 bail.
