Police find loaded gun, knife, drugs on traffic stop

Hollister police arrested two Hollister men on suspicion of gun and drug charges Saturday morning following a traffic stop on South Street.

Police pulled over Gregory Hernandez, 32, and Brandon Ortiz, 23, at 1:53 a.m. Saturday in the 300 block of South Street, according to Sgt. Don Pershall.

Police recommended charges of driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a loaded firearm for Hernandez along with charges of carrying a concealed dagger and possession of a loaded firearm for Ortiz.

Pershall confirmed police found a loaded handgun in the vehicle.

The two men were arrested and booked at the San Benito County Jail.

See the full press release below:

Police arrested two men after stopping a vehicle for a traffic violation.

On November 9, 2019 at about 1:53 am, Officer Rene Rayas was on patrol when he noticed a vehicle weaving within the road and exhibiting signs of the driver possibly being intoxicated. He stopped the vehicle on the 300 Block of South Street to investigate further.

Officer Rayas conducted a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) investigation on the driver of the vehicle, 32 year-old, Gregory Anthony Hernandez from Hollister. Officer Rayas eventually placed Mr. Hernandez under arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance.

While placing Mr. Hernandez under arrest, drugs were located on his person. Officer Rayas contacted the passenger of the vehicle, 23 year-old Brandon Ortiz, also a Hollister resident. Mr. Ortiz was found to be in possession of a concealed dirk or dagger on his person.

During the course of this investigation, a loaded handgun and stolen property were found in the vehicle. Both occupants of the vehicle denied knowing the unregistered firearm was in the vehicle. The handgun was located in a place accessible to both the driver and the passenger of the car.

Officers also located a wallet and other items belonging to someone else. The owner of the wallet was later contacted to return his wallet. The man advised he had lost his wallet several days earlier and didn’t know why these men would have his property.

Mr. Hernandez was booked into the county jail on the charges of, driving under the influence, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine, misappropriation of lost property and carrying a loaded firearm. Ortiz was booked on the charges of, carrying a concealed dagger and carrying a loaded firearm.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Officer Rayas at the Hollister Police Department at 636-4330. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the WeTip hotline at 800-78-CRIME. Information provided to WeTip may qualify for a reward.