In Either Case the Handguns Were Not Registered
WATSONVILLE—Members of the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Gang Task Force arrested 18-year-old Watsonville resident Saul Castillo-Arana after a search of his residence produced an unregistered handgun.
Members of the Task Force were on routine patrol near Bree Lane in Watsonville. They contacted Arana, a known gang participant, at his apartment on the 300 block of Bree Lane. Arana is a convicted felon on active probation and is subjected to searches while on probation. He had been arrested on October 4 for possession of concentrated cannabis and failure to obey an officer. His prior offenses as a juvenile are not available. GTF agents searched his home and found a loaded handgun in his bedroom.
Since Arana is a felon on probation he is also restricted from possessing a firearm pursuant to his terms of probation. The gun had a serial number, but it was not registered.
Saul Castillo Arana was arrested by the Gang Task Force Members on charges of being in possession of a loaded firearm as a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and for violating his probation. Arana was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on January 8.
Omar Diaz, and the weapon found in his possession.
On January 29, The Santa Cruz Anti-Crime Team was at it again as they arrested 39-year-old Omar Diaz for being in possession of a loaded .38 caliber handgun. Additionally, Diaz had three warrants for his arrest for assault for a deadly weapon and domestic battery.
Diaz also had additional ammunition in a loaded magazine in his pants pocket. Diaz was booked in the Santa Cruz County Jail for possession of a loaded firearm and providing false information to a peace officer.
This marks the third handgun seized in 2015. The Gang task Force seized 26 firearms in 2014 and 78 firearms since 2012.
