Watsonville Man Arrested for Drug Paraphernalia, Illegal Gun Possession
WATSONVILLE — Last Thursday evening, Watsonville Police Corporal Ihlen and Officer Williams were on a routine patrol when they spotted an awkwardly-parked vehicle near the area of Walker and West Front.
The two decided to investigate and approached the vehicle, only to discover that it was still occupied — 30-year-old local Juan Carlos Rodriguez sat in the driver’s seat with an unidentified passenger next to him. The vehicle was also littered with open alcohol containers.
Rodriguez told the officers he had an unregistered loaded gun between his legs. He had purchased it illegally at the Pajaro River and test-fired it in the river bed before getting into his car.
The officers were able to confiscate the gun without incident and search Rodriguez, who admitted to being under the influence of methamphetamine and was also found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was placed under arrest and booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on charges of possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, negligent discharge of a firearm, possession of drug paraphernalia, being an addict in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm while under the influence of a drug.
His bail has been set at $25,000.
