San Benito County Sheriff’s Deputies Seize Ghost Gun and Narcotics in Riverbed Arrest
SAN BENITO, CA – On June 26, 2026, at approximately 8:30 a.m., San Benito County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the San Benito riverbed near Riverview Way following reports of a suspicious vehicle driving slowly through the neighborhood.
During an area check, deputies located a vehicle matching the description parked on a section of private property within the riverbed. The occupants were uncooperative upon initial contact and were subsequently detained by law enforcement.
A search of the driver revealed a bag of suspected methamphetamine. A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded an additional baggie of suspected methamphetamine, suspected psilocybin mushrooms, and dozens of used needles. Deputies also recovered an unserialized, privately manufactured short-barrel rifle, commonly referred to as a “ghost gun,” from inside the vehicle.
The driver was arrested on multiple felony charges related to the possession of narcotics and the firearm. The passenger was arrested for trespassing on private property and has since been released from custody.
The San Benito County Sheriff’s Office noted that this enforcement action coincides with the ongoing San Benito River cleanup project, which began in April 2025. Phase 4 of the cleanup effort commenced in April 2026 and remains active. Sheriff’s Office personnel continue to patrol the riverbed as part of the project, and individuals found in the area face citation or arrest for trespassing.
