Ceasefire officers with the Oakland Police Department say a routine enforcement stop on the 4500 block of Linden Street on Wednesday turned into a high-stakes gun bust, ending with three arrests and three seized firearms.
According to police, a juvenile was found carrying a loaded handgun with an extended magazine, while two adults bolted from the scene on foot before officers caught up with them. Investigators later determined that two of the recovered guns had been outfitted with devices that converted them into fully automatic firearms.
What Police Say Happened
In a post from the Oakland Police Department, Ceasefire officers reported that they initiated an enforcement stop on Wednesday evening in the 4500 block of Linden Street and ended up recovering three firearms during the encounter.
Police say one juvenile was detained at the scene and that officers located a loaded firearm with an extended magazine on their person. Two adults took off from the immediate area but were later detained, according to OPD. The department added that both adults had outstanding felony warrants and were legally prohibited from possessing firearms. All three individuals were arrested on multiple firearms-related offenses, the post stated.
Conversion Devices Raise Federal Concerns
In its post, OPD noted that two of the seized firearms were equipped with devices that converted them into fully automatic weapons, a detail that could significantly increase the potential charges investigators pursue.
Federal regulators have long treated many aftermarket "conversion devices" - often referred to as auto sears or "Glock switches" - as machineguns under the National Firearms Act, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has prosecuted cases tied to possession of these parts. The ATF notes that merely possessing such a device can trigger severe federal penalties.
How This Fits Into Oakland's Anti-Gun Work
According to OPD, this latest seizure is part of a broader, ongoing series of Ceasefire operations aimed at driving down gun violence across Oakland. Those actions have led to frequent firearms recoveries throughout the year.
Earlier this year, a similar Ceasefire operation on 89th Avenue also resulted in multiple arrests and several weapons being pulled from circulation, highlighting how active the program has been. Recent efforts have included joint work between Ceasefire officers, the Crime Reduction Team and other OPD units, reflecting a citywide push to get illegal guns off the streets.
Legal Implications
In its public statement, the Oakland Police Department said all three people remain in custody after being arrested on multiple firearms-related offenses and are awaiting formal charges.
Because two of the guns were reportedly modified with conversion devices, the case could attract both state weapons charges and federal attention. Under federal law, many of these conversion devices are treated as machine guns, a classification that can bring serious prison time. OPD said it remains committed to proactive enforcement to prevent violence and will continue coordinating with prosecutors on next steps in the case.
