The Two Suspects Were Riding Around With A Gun In Their Car
HOLLISTER—The Hollister Police Department made two arrests on weapons charges Monday night, December 30, after a concerned citizen reported a disturbance of a large group of men getting ready to fight, possibly a gang fight.
On Monday, at 9 p.m., the Hollister Police department and the San Benito County Sheriff Department both responded to a report of a disturbance on the 400 block of Tres Pinos Road in Hollister. A witness reported that he saw several groups of men, described as gang members, potentially getting ready to fight. The witness also reports that he saw a man displaying a handgun.
Busy Tres Pinos Road was the scene of the nighttime disturbance.
As both Hollister Police Officers and San Benito County Sheriff deputies arrived they could only locate two suspects, as the other had apparently vacated the area. The two suspects located there were 22-year-old Randy Casarez and 21-year-old Tiffany Banuelos, both of Hollister.
“The witness positively identified both Casarez and Banuelos as being involved in the disturbance.” Captain Carlos Reynoso of the Hollister Police Department said in a press release, “Both Casarez and Banuelos were taken into custody and transported to County Jail.”
Cararez was booked on charges of violating his probation, felon in possession of a firearm, conspiracy to commit a crime, gang member carrying a loaded gun firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, having a concealed firearm in a vehicle and possession of stolen property.
Banuelos was charged with carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle, possession of a switchblade knife, conspiracy to commit a crime, obstructing an officer, receiving stolen property and possession of a handgun.
Officers found the handgun that the witness described when he reported the crime. It was located in the vehicle that Banuelos was driving.
The Hollister Police Department is still actively investigating this case and is asking anyone with information to call the Hollister Police Department at 1-831-636-4330.
