Teen, Felon Arrested In Watsonville In Separate Gun Incidents: Police

WATSONVILLE, CA — Two people were arrested in Watsonville in unrelated cases on suspicion of possessing loaded guns, according to the Watsonville Police Department.

The arrests were made by the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team, a multiagency task force made up of personnel from law enforcement agencies in Santa Cruz County.

In the first incident, Juan Hernandez — a 35-year-old Watsonville resident — was suspected of possessing a loaded firearm as a convicted felon. The anti-crime team served a search warrant at Hernandez’s home on the 100 block of Maple Avenue and found three guns, one of which was loaded and accessible to kids living at the home, according to police. Police said they also found cocaine at the residence.

Hernandez was out on bail for unrelated firearm charges. He was also charged with child endangerment along with convicted felon in possession of a loaded firearm and possession of cocaine.

A 17-year-old teen was also arrested in a separate incident on the 200 block of Main Street, when officers found a loaded unserialized semiautomatic gun with 31-round magazine while at a traffic stop, according to police. The teen faces gun charges.