Salinas Police bust gang member with load gun and drugs

A gang member was caught with drugs and a loaded fire arm during a traffic stop in Salinas.

According to Salinas Police, officers pulled over a car around 4:20 p.m. on December 6 for a vehicle code violation. Four people were inside the car, including 19-year-old gang member Carlos Torres. During a search, officers found a loaded .45 caliber firearm on the waistband of Torres.

Officers searched the car and also found a backpack full of drugs belonging to Torres. Drugs inside the backpack included 116 grams of marijuana, 14 grams of concentrated marijuana wax and 15 pills of Xanax.

The gun found in Torres possession was not registered. Police said Torres is a Norteno gang member. He was taken to the Monterey County Jail.