A routine traffic stop in San Bruno turned chaotic last Tuesday, when police say a 23-year-old parolee bailed out of a black SUV, flung a loaded handgun into a stranger's backyard, and tried to run for it before officers caught up with him. He was booked on a parole violation along with multiple weapons-related charges.
Officer Chase And Gun Recovery
According to the San Bruno Police Department, Officer Smith tried to pull over a black SUV in the 400 block of Poplar Avenue for multiple vehicle-code violations when the vehicle suddenly stopped. Police say the driver, identified as a 23-year-old San Bruno man on parole, jumped out armed and took off running.
The officer chased him across El Camino Real into a nearby residential neighborhood. Investigators say the man ditched a loaded handgun in the backyard of a home before officers recovered the weapon and later found him hiding in a driveway on the 400 block of Kensington Avenue.
Custody And Booking
Authorities say the suspect was taken into custody without any further incident and transported to the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City. The Maguire facility serves as the county's main jail and houses pretrial inmates, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.
Legal Consequences For Parolees
Police noted that the man was on parole, a status that typically comes with strict limits on weapons. Under California law, Penal Code Section 29800 makes it a felony for certain people convicted of felonies to own or possess firearms, according to California Legislative Information.
How This Fits Locally
The department posted a short video of the stop and recovery on its Facebook page, offering a quick rundown of how officers tracked the suspect and pulled the loaded handgun out of circulation, according to the San Bruno Police Department. Earlier this year, a similar case in April saw San Bruno officers bust a felon with a loaded gun, highlighting the department's recent focus on weapons enforcement.
Contacting Police
Anyone with information about the stop is asked to contact the San Bruno Police Department's non-emergency line or use the city's online contact options. Phone numbers and station details for the department are listed on the city's police page, according to the City of San Bruno.
