Salinas police arrest two for gun, meth possession charges

The Salinas Police Department’s Violence Suppression Unit arrested two suspected gang members on gun and drug charges this past weekend.

Sunday afternoon, officers contacted Carlos Lizano, 27, in the parking lot of a motel on Kern Street. He was trespassing and acting suspiciously, police said. He was found in possession of methamphetamine and a loaded handgun, and is a convicted felon. He was booked into Monterey County Jail.

On Saturday evening, officers stopped wanted parolee Roberto Ruiz, 37, in the area of Linwood and Chaparral. A loaded gun was found under the seat of his car, along with methamphetamine. A parole search at his residence turned up a shotgun with 400 rounds.

Ruiz is an active gang member, police said. He was booked into Monterey County Jail on suspicion of being a gang member in possession of a firearm and possession of methamphetamine for sales.