Tuolumne County Sheriff: Plain view of a gun leads to weapons and drug sales charges
Originally published as a Tuolumne County Sheriff Facebook post:
“On Wednesday at around 11:46 in the evening, a TCSO deputy made a traffic stop on a SUV in the area of Seco Street in Jamestown. The deputy contacted the driver of the vehicle, 43-year-old Thomas Galano of Stockton, and the passenger, 44-year-old Shelley Wade of Stockton, and was able to see a gun in plain view inside of the vehicle.
Additional deputies arrived and conducted high-risk traffic stop, remaining at a distance while ordering Galano and Wade out of the vehicle. A record check of Galano found he had a misdemeanor warrant and was a convicted felon. A record check of Wade found she also had a misdemeanor warrant and was a convicted felon.
Deputies searched the vehicle and found a loaded Sig Saur handgun, pepper spray, a pellet pistol, a bag containing just under 80 grams of methamphetamine packaged into several smaller bags, checks, a scale, and drug use paraphernalia. A record check of the gun found it had been reported as lost out of San Joaquin County. Statements made by Wade led deputies to believe she was in possession of the weapons found inside of the vehicle.
Deputies arrested Wade and booked her at the DDC on charges of possession of a controlled substance for sale, transportation of a controlled substance for sale, prohibited person in possession of a firearm, felon, or addict in possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of tear gas, possession of drug use paraphernalia and a misdemeanor warrant.
Deputies arrested Galano and booked him at the Dambacher Detention Center (DDC) on charges of possession of a controlled substance for sale, transportation of a controlled substance for sale and a misdemeanor warrant.”
