A 34-year-old Los Banos man was arrested near Hollister on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle, a gun and methamphetamine.
The suspect faces additional charges of possessing burglary tools, a drug pipe and a stun gun.
According to the sheriff’s office announcement, which arrested the man near Union and Southside roads:
At about 2:30 p.m. Thursday, San Benito County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jason Leist observed a vehicle code violation in the area of Union Road at Southside Road in the unincorporated area of San Benito County. He stopped the Honda that was later confirmed to have been reported stolen out of Dos Palos.
David Lopez, who is from Los Banos, was arrested during the vehicle enforcement stop. Lopez is also on post-release community supervision parole. During a search of the vehicle, a suspected methamphetamine pipe, a lower receiver for an AR-15 rifle and an “Airsoft” style pellet gun that was altered to resemble a real firearm were located.
A female passenger was also in the car, and it was later learned the Lopez made criminal threats to her if she were to cooperate with law enforcement during the stop. Lopez was transported and booked into the San Benito County Jail on the listed charges.
- Two $100,000 dollar felony warrants out of Merced County
- 10851 VC – Vehicle Theft
- 496 PC – Possession of stolen property
- 466 PC – Possession of burglary tools
- 32310(a) PC – Possession of a high capacity magazine
- PC 12220(a) Possession or transport of machine gun/parts
- 11364 HS Possession of drug paraphernalia
- 29805 (a) PC – Felon in possession of a firearm
- 20150(a) PC – Alter replica firearm
- 22610 (a) PC – Felon in possession of a “stun gun.”
- 422 PC – Criminal Threats
It was the proactive, inquisitive stop by Leist that made the recovery of this stolen vehicle and firearm possible. Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office on our anonymous tip-line at (831) 636-4084.
