Hollister Police Officer Pedro Torres was on patrol the night of August 24th when he pulled over a vehicle on Highway 25.
The driver was identified as 33-year old Daniel Zavala Lopez and the passenger as 24-year old Joshua Ray Gutierrez from Hollister.
Lopez’s active parole status allowed the officer to search the vehicle per Lopez’s parole terms. The officer found a loaded handgun in the vehicle which would have been acssessable to both men.
Lopez was placed under arrest. He faces charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm in public, felon in possession of ammunition, carrying a firearm while not being the register owner, and violating his parole.
Gutierrez was also arrested and faces similar charges: carrying loaded firearm in public and carrying a firearm while not being the registered owner.
Both men were booked into San Benito County Jail. During search of Gutierrez’s person while being booked into the jail, officers found a methamphetamine-like substance.
As a result, Gutierrez may also be charged with possession of a controlled substance while armed and bringing a controlled substance into a jail.
Photos from Hollister Police Department
