Crime & Safety
Gang Member Gives Gun to Girl, Tells Her to Run
Police arrested two gang members and grabbed a loaded handgun at a park Monday.
The police department's gang unit arrested two gang members, who also both are convicted felons, and seized a loaded .22-caliber handgun at on Main Street on Monday evening, Watsonville police reported.
Aaron Amescua, 25, and Jeronimo Carranza, 23, were hanging out in a car in the parking lot of the recreational center around 6:20 p.m. when officers came acrosss them and tried to search them, police said.
But before an officer could reach Amescua, who was in the driver's seat, he allegedly pulled a gun out of the waistband of his pants and tossed it toward a female passenger in the car. Police said he wanted her to run with the weapon.
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The cops took control of the situation, secured everyone and got the gun, police said.
Carranza, who is on parole, was arrested for a parole violation. Amescua was jailed for being a felon with a gun and ammunition, as well as gang charges.
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The female passenger was not arrested. Police did not identify her.
It wasn't a good night to hang out at the park if you were looking for trouble. The police department's softball team took the field against the fire department's lineup at 6:30 p.m., so there was an entire squad of cops in the area.
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