Stolen, Loaded Gun And Cocaine Found On Fleeing Man In SMC: Police

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — Officers found a large quantity of suspected cocaine and a loaded gun on a 43-year-old man in unincorporated San Mateo County on Wednesday afternoon, police said.

San Mateo County Sheriff’s deputies said they attempted to pull over a driver near the intersection of Highway 92 and Highway 35 around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. However, the driver wasn't willing to stop, instead taking off and drove onto the grounds of the Skylawn Cemetery.

Deputies quickly set up a perimeter, deploying K-9 units and a drone unit to locate the fleeing suspect. They soon found 43-year-old Gabriel A. Montalvo of Milpitas on foot and took him into custody, police said

Police said Montalvo, who had two no-bail felony warrants for his arrest, was driving while intoxicated. He was carrying a significant amount of suspected cocaine and another person's EBT card, police said.

During a search of the area, a K-9 found a loaded firearm hidden in nearby bushes. The gun was later confirmed to be stolen, police said. Video evidence showed Montalvo ditching the weapon as he tried to evade capture, police said.

A passenger in the car, 48-year-old Ana L. Afungia of East Palo Alto, was also located and arrested, police said.

Both Montalvo and Afungia were booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility, police said.

Montalvo faces a litany of charges, including: felon in possession of a loaded firearm and ammunition, possession of a firearm while in possession of narcotics, possession of a stolen firearm, identification theft, felony evading, reckless driving, driving under the influence, obstructing or delaying a peace officer, and his two no-bail felony warrants.

Afungia was charged with vehicle owner permitted driver to carry a firearm in the vehicle and obstructing or delaying a peace officer. There were no injuries or property damage reported, police said