AR-15-Style Gun Found Within Access Of 2-Year-Old Child: Napa Police

NAPA, CA — Two arrests were made when a high-risk search warrant was served Wednesday at the Napa residence of a known gang member, the Napa Police Department said in a news release.

Around 4 p.m. Wednesday, detectives from the Napa Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit along with tactical officers from the Napa Police Department and Napa County Sheriff’s Department SWAT teams served the warrant in the 2600 block of Linda Vista Avenue near West Park Avenue.

Jaime Mendoza Torres, 21, was the subject of the warrant and is believed to be involved in recent violent crimes in the city, Napa police Lt. Veronica Rodrigues said in the news release.

In searching the residence, officers found an un-serialized AR-15 style assault rifle, ammunition, various firearm accessories, and gang indicia, Rodrigues said.

According to the lieutenant, the gun was found within access of a 2-year-old child who lived at the residence but was not home at the time of the search warrant.

Torres and a female relative, Helia Torres, 42, were contacted at the residence.

"Helia Torres later made admissions as to her awareness of the illegal items in the residence," Rodrigues said.

Jaime Torres and Helia Torres were arrested and booked into the Napa County Detention Center on felony charges including the manufacture of firearms, crimes in furtherance of a criminal street gang, crimes in furtherance of a criminal street gang, child endangerment, unsafe storage of a firearm and possession of metal knuckles.

Jail records Friday indicated Helia has since been released from custody but Jaime remained behind bars with his bail set at $50,000.