Photo: Deputy Pederson and Smokey
Charges ranging from manufacture / sale of metal knuckles to possession of a controlled substance while armed have landed three San Bernardino County residents in jail. Vehicle code violations had initially instigated the early afternoon double traffic stop of the motorcyclist and the car driving in tandem on January 3rd, 2019, in Rancho Cucamonga.
When pulled over at the 8500 block of Vineyard Avenue by a Rancho Cucamonga Police Department official who had K9 accompaniment, the motorcyclist, later identified as Steven Brown, fled on foot. Police located the 44-year-old Rancho Cucamonga resident shortly after. The driver and passenger of the car, Rodney Juarez, aged 47, and Julie Pena, aged 36, both of Upland, California, remained at their vehicle, where responding deputies detained them.
A search of Brown’s motorcycle turned up methamphetamine and a stolen, loaded handgun. In a search of the vehicle used by Juarez and Pena, the police department’s K9 detected drugs in the center console, specifically methamphetamine. A pair of brass knuckles was also found.
Further investigation of the suspects revealed Brown to have a no-bail felony warrant out for his arrest, and Pena to be on felony probation.
Brown, Juarez and Pena were arrested at the scene and booked into the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga for charges of possession of a controlled substance while armed, possession of a controlled substance for sale, transportation of a controlled substance, felony possession of a firearm, prohibited owning / etc. ammunition, post-release community supervision violation, new felony offense, manufacture / sale / etc. of metal knuckles, and probation violation.
