Felon arrested for possibly building/altering rifles

A Salinas man is behind bars after police received information that he was building AR-15 rifles and altering them into full-auto capability.

Salinas Police officers arrested Ramon Berlanga, 40, and his parents after serving a search warrant at their home on the 1700 block of 1st Avenue.

Officers found one AR-15 with over 600 rounds of .223 caliber rifle ammo and several types of gun powder.

Berlanga was sent to the Monterey County Jail for a variety of felony charges, including felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

More charges could be filed if the investigation reveals the AR-15 is fully automatic.