3 Arrested For Meth and Unloaded Gun in Atwater

by Michael Chaoui , May 15, 2013

Arellano, 18

The Atwater Police Officers made three arrests after a simple traffic stop which revealed drugs, a rifle, and a wanted felon.

According to Lt. Sam Joseph, the officers observed a gold Ford pickup truck make an unsafe pass as they were patrolling the area on Sunday night. The officers made a traffic stop, but when they confronted the driver, Marcos Hernandez, it turned out his license in suspended. In fact, 20-year-old Hernandez was actually wanted on a misdemeanor arrest warrant.

The officers then searched the vehicle and found a soda can, which contained more than 7 grams of marijuana and .05 grams of methamphetamine.

During the search, police also found a .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle.

Hernandez, 20

Joseph stated that Hernandez, who’s a known Sureno gang member, admitted the drugs belonging to him, but denied being the owner of the rifle.

Two accompanying passengers – Oscar Arellano, 18, and Luis Gonzalez, 28 – were arrested on suspicion of possessing the weapon and being involved in the participation of a criminal street gang.

Lt. Joseph reported that officers discovered evidence tying Arellano and Gonzalez to possession of the gun upon searching through their cell phones.