Photo: Evidence collected during arrest | Mill Valley PD
MILL VALLEY — Weapons, ammunition, and other suspicious items were discovered during a traffic stop. The driver Zhanjian Zhang, 28, of San Leandro, was arrested and booked into Marin County Jail.
Zhang was pulled over March 30 during the predawn hours, near the intersection of Miller Avenue and Almonte Boulevard. It was a routine stop for a broken headlight. However, the officer immediately noticed “items of concern” inside the vehicle while speaking with the man.
A prepared statement from the Mill Valley Police Department says. “Many items were seized from the driver’s vehicle, some of which will result in charges.”
Items found inside the vehicle included weapons, high-capacity magazines and a dangerous booby trap. A face mask, gloves and cell phones were also found. Apparently, the booby trap was designed to hold a shotgun shell that would be fired if anyone touched the trip wire.
Consequently, Zhang was placed under arrest at 3:24 a.m. He is being held in custody on open charges in lieu of $500,000 bond. Zhang was booked for:
- Carrying an explosive device PC 18725(A)
- Possession of a dangerous weapon PC 12020
- Possession of a large capacity magazine PC 32310
- Possession of a cane sword PC 20510.
The incident is an open investigation, pending further review by the Marin County District Attorney’s Office. Additional charges are believed a distinct possibility when this inquiry is completed.
