Over the weekend, a routine traffic stop conducted by San Mateo County Sheriff's deputies turned up more than just smoke on the skyline; it led to the arrest of a Union City man found with a stolen firearm and a high-capacity magazine. The event unfolded in the Skyline area of unincorporated San Mateo County, as deputies zeroed in on a vehicle for a code violation and apparent marijuana use by the driver.
The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office reported that the incident happened around 2:30 PM along the intersection of SR 92 and SR 35. The deputies noted not only the presence of marijuana but also drug paraphernalia and open alcohol beverages in the vehicle. A deeper search of the vehicle revealed a loaded handgun tucked away beneath the driver's seat, complete with a 17-round magazine that had been reported stolen back in 2020.
Luis A. Zavala, the 34-year-old driver from Union City, was not legally allowed to have a gun and now faces a series of charges, the Sheriff’s Office explained his arrest on several counts including possession of a loaded firearm by a prohibited person, carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, possession of stolen property and possession of a high-capacity magazine.
Booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility, Zavala is being held on several felony charges including possession of a loaded firearm by a prohibited person under PC 25850(C)(4), possession of ammunition by a prohibited person under PC 30305(A)(1) and possession of stolen property under PC 496(A), as well as a misdemeanor charge for possession of a high-capacity magazine under PC 32310(A).
