What started as a routine traffic stop on Foothill Expressway near Grant Road yesterday ended with a driver in handcuffs after officers say he admitted he had a loaded firearm and tossed it onto the roadway. Police later searched the emergency lane, found the weapon and took the driver into custody. Authorities booked the suspect into the San Jose Main Jail on multiple firearms-related counts.
According to a post by the City of Los Altos Police Department, officers pulled the vehicle over near the Foothill and Grant intersection. During the stop, the driver allegedly admitted he had a gun and said he threw it from the vehicle. The post, which included photos, described the firearm as loaded and showed a second item consistent with a large-capacity magazine.
Officers Say They Found a Loaded Gun On Shoulder Of Foothill
Officers searched the shoulder and emergency lane and located the firearm on the roadway, according to the department’s post, which notes that the weapon was loaded in the images shared. The Los Altos Police Department, which patrols corridors such as Foothill Expressway, posted photos and basic details of the incident online. The post did not identify the driver by name.
Charges And Custody
In the same City of Los Altos Police Department post, the department said the driver was booked on suspicion of carrying a loaded firearm in public, possession of a large-capacity magazine, altering identifying markings on a firearm and destroying or concealing evidence. The post states the driver was arrested and booked into the San Jose Main Jail. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office inmate finder lists the Main Jail as the county’s central booking complex, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office.
What The Charges Mean Under State Law
California prohibits carrying a loaded firearm in public under Penal Code §25850, which can be charged as a misdemeanor or elevated to a felony depending on the circumstances; see California Legislative Information. Possession of a large-capacity magazine is restricted under Penal Code §32310 and carries its own penalties; see California Legislative Information. Altering or removing a firearm’s identifying marks is a separate offense under Penal Code §23900, and destroying or concealing potential evidence is penalized under Penal Code §135; see explanatory summaries at Grace Legal Group and Shouse Law.
