Ceres police arrest 19-year-old in park after finding loaded handgun
A 19-year-old man was arrested late Saturday after Ceres police said officers found a loaded handgun concealed in his waistband during a contact at a city park.
According to the Ceres Police Department, the incident occurred shortly after 11 p.m. April 25 at Don Pedro Park. Officer Kyle Hatcher was on patrol when he observed a group of individuals gathered at a bench after park hours. Police said the group was believed to include gang members.
Officers contacted the group, and during the encounter found a loaded handgun equipped with a high-capacity magazine concealed on one of the individuals, identified as Ayden Duran, 19.
Duran was taken into custody and booked on multiple weapons-related charges, including possession of a loaded firearm by a gang member, police said.
Authorities did not release additional details about the circumstances leading up to the contact or whether others in the group were cited or detained.
In a statement, the department said it “takes gang-related violence and the illegal possession of firearms seriously” and remains committed to proactive enforcement efforts to ensure public safety.