Teen Arrested for Possession of Loaded Gun

Damian Axel Herrera, 18, was arrested Tuesday morning after sheriff's deputies determined he was carrying a loaded gun, Santa Cruz sheriff's Deputy April Skalland said.

Sheriff's deputies spotted Herrera while out patrolling the areas around Seventh Avenue and Vista Lane in Santa Cruz at around 10:45 a.m. They noticed the Watsonville resident dressed entirely in black peeking into car windows and looking suspicious, Skalland said.

Herrera was reportedly dressed in gang-like attire, wearing a pair of baggy jeans and a bulky jacket.

Deputies stopped to speak with him, and after he consented to a search, they searched Herrera's backpack and found marijuana. They found a loaded gun in the pocket of Herrera's pants, which was later determined to have been stolen from Tuolumne County.

Herrera was arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon and possessing stolen property, with a gang enhancement.