In a proactive move against gun violence, Santa Rosa Police Special Enforcement Team officers pulled over a Mercedes sedan due to excessively tinted windows and discovered a concealed, unregistered firearm. The traffic stop occurred on the evening of December 6 on Northcoast Street near the Valley Oak Park apartments, where officers made the alarming find. According to a news release by the Santa Rosa Police Department, a loaded Glock 43 9mm handgun was found under the front passenger seat during a warranted search of the vehicle.
The occupants, 20-year-old Pablo Zaldivar-Aguilar and 21-year-old Jorge Lozano-Casillas, were both from Santa Rosa. Following a pat search, which yielded no weapons, the officers proceeded to conduct a more thorough search of the car. This led to the discovery of the hidden firearm, which a records check confirmed had not been registered with the Department of Justice as required by law. Lozano-Casillas was subsequently arrested for possession of a loaded firearm not registered to his person and carrying a concealed firearm while in a vehicle. At the same time, the driver, Zaldivar-Aguilar, was released at the scene.
In support of this mission, Sgt. Matt White, a spokesperson for the Santa Rosa Police, reaffirmed the Special Enforcement Team's dedication to the city's safety. "The Santa Rosa Police Department is committed to making the City of Santa Rosa a safe place to live, work, and play," White stated.
