Santa Cruz police arrest man for carrying loaded gun, child endangerment
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (BCN) - Santa Cruz County Sheriff's deputies arrested a man Saturday morning on suspicion of possessing a loaded gun and child endangerment.
In the early morning hours, three deputies saw a black BMW in a no-parking zone near Twin Lakes Beach. They contacted the driver, who was identified as Richard Alvarez, sheriff's officials said.
While speaking to Alvarez, deputies saw a gun on the rear passenger floorboard. They also saw a two-year-old child unrestrained in the back seat near the gun, sheriff's officials said.
The gun was loaded, sheriff's officials said.
Alvarez was arrested on suspicion of possessing a loaded gun and child endangerment. The child was released to the care and custody of a family member, sheriff's officials said.
Sheriff's officials did not say if the child was Alvarez's.