Modesto Police Street Gangs Unit seize four guns in seven hours

Modesto Police Department’s Street Gang Unit seized four illegal guns Tuesday night, bringing their total to 70 so far this year.

The first incident Tuesday involved a traffic stop on a vehicle at Nadine and Richland Avenues at 5:26 p.m. The passenger, Juan Dimas, 27, was found to be on felony probation for firearms. A loaded handgun was recovered from the passenger door compartment. Dimas was booked on suspicion of multiple gun charges and probation violation.

An hour later, SGU officers pulled over a vehicle at Vicksburg Street at ToniLane. They observed the passenger, 18-year-old Juan Contreras, concealing something. Officers recovered a loaded revolver from the vehicle. Contreras was arrested on suspicion of multiple gun charges.

Just after 8 p.m., SGU officers pulled over Joaquin Guynes, 28, and found he was on parole. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded handgun concealed in the dash. Guynes was booked on suspicion of multiple gun charges and violation of parole.

Around midnight, Michael Williams, 35, was seen armed with a shotgun in an apartment complex in the 1300 block of Oakdale Road.

Williams hid the gun prior to officers’ arrival. When confronted by officers, he refused to comply with their requests. Williams was eventually taken into custody and officers recovered a loaded shotgun and cocaine from his vehicle.

He was booked on suspicion of gun and drug charges, as well as for obstruction and violation of probation.

Modesto’s Street Gang Unit is comprised of six officers and a sergeant.

This story was originally published June 7, 2017 at 3:47 PM with the headline "Modesto Police Street Gangs Unit seize four guns in seven hours."