Salinas Police: Man busted for ghost gun after fast food employees see him handling it in plain sight
Photo: Salinas PD
Originally published 6-30-21 via Facebook
by the Salinas Police Department:
“On 6-29-2021 at 5:18 pm, officers responded to 1800 Northridge Mall to a call of an occupant in a vehicle at the drive-thru of a fast food restaurant handling a handgun in plain view of other customers in line.
Officers arrived and located the vehicle and conducted a high risk stop as it exited the drive-thru. A subsequent search of the vehicle and occupants revealed two firearms. A .40 caliber ghost gun and a 9mm Smith and Wesson, both unregistered. One firearm was located where Jose Luis Maldonado Sr. (42) had been seated and the second was found in Monica Maldonado’s (40) purse. There was also an 11 year old occupant in the vehicle.
Jose Sr. was booked in county jail for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, child endangerment, and several other gun related charges. Jose Jr. (22) was cited for being the driver and allowing a firearm in the vehicle, and Monica was cited for possession of a concealed firearm by a passenger and possession of a loaded firearm in public.”
