A routine traffic stop in the early morning hours of August 1 led to the arrest of a Ceres resident on DUI and weapons charges, according to a statement from the Ceres Police Department. Officer Hatcher initiated the stop in the 1300 block of Herndon Road after observing a white GMC van with visible mechanical issues and erratic driving behavior.
Around 2 a.m. on August 1, Ceres Police Officer Hatcher observed a white GMC van exhibiting mechanical issues and swerving in traffic near the 1300 block of Herndon Road. The officer conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as 41-year-old Jacob Stephens of Ceres.
According to the Ceres Police Department, Officer Hatcher observed signs of impairment while speaking with Stephens. Following a DUI investigation, Stephens was arrested and charged with driving under the influence.
During a vehicle inventory, officers located an illegal short-barreled shotgun inside the van. Stephens was subsequently booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on charges of DUI and possession of an illegal firearm.
