Man With Loaded Gun Arrested At Petaluma Business: Police

PETALUMA, CA — A Contra Costa County man was arrested Friday night in Petaluma on suspicion of possessing a loaded gun in a public place, police said.

Officers responded at 8:22 p.m. Friday to a business at 20 Grey St. where security guards had detained Andrue Nieves, a 20-year-old El Sobrante resident, for possibly having a handgun on him, a Petaluma police sergeant said.

"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," police Sgt. Ryan Suhrke said.

Petaluma officers detained Nieves and his associates as they searched Nieves' bag.

Officers confirmed Nieves had an unregistered semi-automatic handgun with an extended high-capacity magazine so he was placed under arrest, Suhrke said.

Police released Nieves' associates without charges once 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," Suhrke said.