Crime & Safety
Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Carrying Loaded Gun, Child Endangerment: Santa Cruz Co. Sheriff's Office
BREAKING: Deputies saw a toddler unrestrained in the back seat near a gun on the floorboard, sheriff's officials said.
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — 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.
