Santa Cruz County Gang/Crime Task Force Arrests Three At Traffic Stop

The Santa Cruz County Anti Crime Team Gang Task Force arrested three men and seized two handguns during a traffic stop in Santa Cruz Friday night.

Members of the multi-agency task force stopped a Nissan SUV around 9:30 p.m. Friday after watching the driver fail to stop at a red light near the intersection of Frederick Street and Soquel Avenue.

Elmer Leiva, 23, was driving on a suspended license, according to the task force. Leiva allegedly provided a false date of birth to conceal his suspended license, according to police.

During a search of the vehicle, officers found two loaded handguns including a .25 caliber semi-automatic and a .38 caliber revolver. After a subsequent records check, the revolver was determined to have been stolen out of Salinas.

Leiva was arrested for giving false information to police and carrying a loaded gun in a vehicle, according to the task force.

Two other people in the vehicle, 35-year-old Ishmael Rivera and 24-year-old Jose Avelar, were arrested for possession of a loaded gun in a vehicle. Officers have also recommended that the suspects be charged with possession of stolen property.

The task force said that one of the suspects had gang-tattoos, and the case is still under investigation.

--Bay City News

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