In a recent crackdown on firearm offenses and illicit drug sales, the Fremont Police Department apprehended a suspect following an attempted traffic stop turned chase earlier this month. According to an official social media post from the department, Lawrence Velasquez, a 44-year-old Fremont resident, was arrested for several felonies related to firearms and drugs.
On February 13, a Fremont officer spotted several equipment violations and attempted to stop a vehicle near Auto Mall Parkway and Grimmer Boulevard. The arrest, executed after the suspect Velasquez returned to his vehicle in a neighboring city, followed a brief but consequential flight on foot by the suspect. Having fled onto I-880, the suspect was a free man until police, coordinating a response including patrol units, detectives, and the Crime Reduction Unit, located the car again. Fremont Police Department's social media post detailed the incident.
Patrol Highlight: Attempted Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest for Several Firearm Offenses and Drug Sales
— Fremont Police Department (@FremontPD) February 23, 2025
On February 13, 2025, at approximately 3:30 p.m., a Fremont Police Officer was on patrol in the area of Auto Mall Parkway and Grimmer Boulevard. The officer initiated a traffic… pic.twitter.com/J29IRMsHNi
The pursuit did not involve a high-speed chase. Instead, the Fremont Police Officer followed protocol by broadcasting the information to fellow officers, ensuring a coordinated effort to apprehend the suspect without immediate danger to the public. The Fremont Police Department noted, "Officers searched Velasquez and located an illegal firearm, a separate unregistered pistol, and a large amount of illegal drugs and paraphernalia consistent with illegal drug sales."
Velasquez's background revealed recent interactions with the legal system. He had been released on his recognizance a few weeks prior following charges on similar offenses. The police found, upon returning to his car, recovered items, including a zipgun, a pistol, and a considerable quantity of suspected drugs. With the current case against Velasquez sent to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office for review, repeat offenses could magnify the legal consequences.
