Graveyard-shift officers in San Pablo say a routine late-night traffic stop turned into a gun seizure after they recovered a loaded 9mm handgun near San Pablo Avenue and Van Ness Street today. According to police, a passenger dropped the weapon on a nearby lawn, while another passenger, described as a juvenile, briefly hid under a parked car before officers took her into custody and later released her to a guardian. The male driver was tracked down at his Richmond home and turned over to Richmond police, the vehicle was impounded for 30 days and the adults involved were booked into the county jail.
Late-night stop turns up loaded gun
According to the San Pablo Police Department, officers pulled the vehicle over at San Pablo Avenue and Van Ness Street and later recovered a loaded 9mm Glock that a passenger had discarded on a lawn. The department’s account states that a female passenger briefly hid under a parked car before officers detained her, and that she was ultimately released to a guardian. Police say the male driver was located at his residence in Richmond and taken into custody there by Richmond officers.
Department’s account and custody details
In its post, the department wrote, “Back 2 back guns for your graveyard officers,” noting that the vehicle was towed to the city yard for a 30-day hold and that the adults were booked into Contra Costa County jail, according to the same San Pablo Police Department post. The post did not list specific charges. Formal booking and charge information is typically released later by the arresting agency or through county booking records.
What the law says
California law generally makes it illegal to carry a loaded firearm in a public place or in a vehicle under Penal Code §25850. Transporting a handgun in a car usually requires that it be unloaded and locked in the trunk or in a locked container, as outlined in Penal Code §25610. Depending on a person’s legal status and the circumstances, violations can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies, and federal rules also prohibit certain people from possessing firearms at all.
Where this fits locally
The San Pablo Police Department has highlighted several recent weapon recoveries on its social media feeds. In December, officers recovered unregistered weapons after a vehicle pursuit, an incident previously covered by Hoodline. Posts like these show how local departments are increasingly using social platforms to broadcast arrests and gun seizures to residents in real time.
Residents who may have information, video, or photos related to the traffic stop can find the original post and contact details on the department’s Facebook page, as referenced by the San Pablo Police Department.
