In the quiet of the night, a routine traffic infraction spiraled into a significant bust for the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. A deputy on patrol in unincorporated Redwood City noticed a driver blatantly dismissing a stop sign in the early hours of Friday, March 15. Pulling over the vehicle led to a discovery that extended far beyond a mere traffic violation.
Upon searching the vehicle, the deputy unearthed a loaded semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine and arrested 22-year-old Berkeley resident Benjamin P. Obrien. Not just packing heat, Obrien was also allegedly in possession of a substantial quantity of drugs, purportedly prepped for distribution. The Sheriff's Office detailed the encounter in a press release and took their account to social media, stating, "While our community is sleeping, your San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Deputies are hard at work keeping San Mateo County safe."
Obrien now faces charges that bring considerable weight: Possession of a Firearm and Possession of Drugs with Intent to Sell. These allegations have rendered him a temporary resident at the Maguire Correctional Facility, where he was booked following the arrest.
