Smell of Weed During Routine Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest of Gang Member

A traffic stop early Tuesday in Santa Rosa led to the arrest of a suspected gang member on suspicion of possession of a loaded gun, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Miguel Lugo, 20, of Santa Rosa, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a concealed and loaded firearm with gang enhancements.

On Tuesday at 3:30 a.m., officers patrolling in the area of Cleveland Avenue near Terry Lane pulled over a vehicle for a broken taillight.

An officer approached the vehicle and could smell marijuana coming from inside, according to the CHP.

The officer noticed one of the passengers in the vehicle had his hands stuck in the pockets of his sweatshirt, so the officer asked to passenger remove his hands from his pockets.

The officer observed a loaded revolver in the man’s pocket, so he retreated to his vehicle and ordered the occupants out of the vehicle one by one at gunpoint, according to the CHP.

Officers took control of the weapon, a loaded revolver, and identified the passenger with the gun as Lugo. Lugo was taken into custody and was found to have a gang history in Sonoma County, according to the CHP.

--Bay City News Service, photo via Shutterstock