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Traffic stop leads to arrest of man with unregistered, loaded handgun
NICE, Calif. – A Northshore man wanted on a felony warrant in Texas was arrested this week on numerous charges related to drug and weapon possession following a traffic stop.
Jose Gustavo Mena III, 43, of Nice was arrested on Wednesday, according to Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
On Wednesday evening a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy patrolling the Nice area observed the driver of a black BMW talking on his cell phone in the area of Liberty Street and Buckingham Way, Paulich said.
As the deputy followed the vehicle he noticed the driver moving around and leaning towards the passenger side. Paulich said the deputy conducted an enforcement stop on Highway 20 near Butte Street.
The deputy contacted the driver, who Paulich said was Mena. As he was speaking with Mena the deputy could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle, Paulich said.
Paulich said Mena told the deputy the vehicle belonged to a family member who smoked marijuana. The deputy had Mena step out of the vehicle and, after evaluating Mena, the deputy determined he was under the influence of a controlled substance and placed him under arrest.
During a search of the vehicle, the deputy located three marijuana cigarettes, a lock pick set, and a loaded 9 millimeter handgun in the pocket located on the back of the passenger seat. The handgun was not registered, according to Paulich.
Paulich said Mena was transported to the Lake County Jail where he was booked for several felonies including carrying an unregistered loaded handgun in public, felon in possession of a firearm, felon carrying a concealed firearm, felon in possession of ammunition and being under the influence of a controlled substance while in possession of a loaded firearm.
It also was determined that Mena had a felony arrest warrant out of Texas for being a felon in possession of a firearm, Paulich said.
Mena remained in custody early Saturday with his bail set at $50,000.