Park police say a late-night stroll on the Bay Trail at Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline turned into an arrest on Wednesday when officers on foot patrol found a concealed, fully loaded handgun tucked into a visitor's sweatshirt.
According to park police, officers walking the trail at the Oakland shoreline contacted an individual and discovered a fully loaded Glock 27 sitting in the person's front sweatshirt pocket. The individual was admitted to carrying a loaded, concealed firearm without a permit, and officers also found several knives. The person was arrested, booked at Santa Rita Jail, and cited for being in the park after curfew.
In a post from the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department, officials said officers recovered a fully loaded Glock 27 with a round in the chamber from the front pocket and located additional knives. The department shared photos of the seized gun and confirmed the suspect was taken to Santa Rita Jail. The post did not identify the person by name.
Park rules ban weapons and enforce curfew
Under the Park District's rules, bringing weapons to the shoreline is not just frowned upon, it is prohibited. East Bay Regional Park District Ordinance 38 bars possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons on Park District lands in Section 403.1 and sets curfew-related restrictions in Section 906 that limit after-hours presence in parklands.
The ordinance carves out only a few narrow exceptions, such as transporting an unloaded firearm through parklands. Outside of those exceptions, having loaded or concealed weapons on park property is a violation.
State law could carry criminal penalties
In addition to local park rules, state law also applies. In California, carrying a concealed firearm can violate Penal Code section 25400, and carrying a loaded firearm in a public place can violate Penal Code section 25850. Both laws can bring fines and potential jail time, depending on the circumstances, including prior convictions or other factors.
According to Justia and Justia, prosecutors decide how to charge these cases on a case-by-case basis, weighing the specific facts and the suspect's history.
How park police respond and how to report
The East Bay Regional Park District Police Department patrols the district's 73 parks and trails and, according to the department's website, asks people to call 911 or (510) 881-1121 for emergencies and (510) 881-1833 for non-emergencies. For non-emergency rule violations, the district also accepts Park Watch reports online.
Officials did not release any additional details about potential formal charges in the social media post. Visitors are urged to familiarize themselves with the limits set out in Ordinance 38 and to report suspicious activity to park police or call 911 in an emergency.
