In a major crackdown, the San José Police Department nabbed 23-year-old Juan Rodriguez Sandoval on charges of illegal firearm possession, which included an assault weapon and child endangerment, according to a department news release. Sandoval, a local of San José, fell into the hands of law enforcement in the early hours of January 16th when a routine traffic stop spiraled into a shocking discovery of illicit arms trading accompanied by minors in the vehicle, casting a grim light on a persistent urban menace.
Following the initial traffic stop, the Police's specialized Gun and Hazardous Offender Suppression Team, acronym GHOST, sprung into action, securing an arrest warrant to bring Sandoval to justice for his transgression, with the added muscle of a Gun Violence Restraining Order to confiscate his legally-held firearms, which were not a part of the ongoing crime probe. An intensive search on April 25 led by the MERGE Unit at an address on Cortez Avenue, indicated by the release, resulted in Sandoval's arrest and the seizure of a cache of deadly arms that spanned nineteen firearms, an arsenal's worth of ammunition, explosives, and gun parts.
The investigation stretched into San Benito County, where officers executed a search warrant at a secondary residence tied to Sandoval. This operation allowed for the recovery of seventeen additional firearms, bringing to a staggering thirty-six the total number of seized guns, which included six privately made firearms and one labeled as an assault weapon, the San José Police Department reported.
The report revealed that charges against Sandoval have been cemented, with him now facing the Santa Clara County Main Jail for his litany of offenses. The authorities, exhibiting a proactive stance, welcome any information that could shed further light on similar cases or provide insight into the concealed underbelly of gun trafficking within the community. Concerned citizens can report tips anonymously through various mediums and be eligible for financial incentives if those tips culminate in an arrest.
