Petaluma PD: Man caught with loaded semi-automatic gun in public

Petaluma officers arrived shortly after and met with security staff who had detained a subject, identified as Andrue Nieves, for possibly being in possession of a handgun. Staff members initially noticed the handgun after his bag was opened while looking for his identification card due to alcohol being sold on the premises.

Officers took over the investigation and located Nieves associates who were detained by Petaluma officers during the course of the investigation. The bag associated with Nieves was searched by officers and a loaded semi-automatic handgun was located with an extended magazine.

It was determined that firearm was unregistered. Nieve was placed under arrest for possessing a loaded firearm in a public place and possessing a high-capacity magazine. Nieve’s associates were released without charges after they were identified.

The Petaluma Police Department would like to thank the alert staff members who alerted the Petaluma Police Department to the hazardous situation.”