Modesto police seize guns

Police took two firearms off the streets as a result of bicycle stops in south and west Modesto on Tuesday.

An officer stopped the first suspect, 45-year-old Jose Costa, at Seattle Street and Butte Avenue in south Modesto at about 3:45 p.m., said Police Department spokeswoman Heather Graves.

The officer asked Costa, who is on parole, whether he was in possession of anything illegal.

Graves said Costa gave the officer the marijuana he had but neglected to give him several other items.

The officer searched Costa and found a stolen revolver and a methamphetamine pipe with residue.

Costa was arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of firearm, possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia and possession of stolen property.

About four hours later, officers were dispatched to Martin Luther King Drive and Oak Street in west Modesto for a report of two men on bicycles, one who was wearing a mask and holding a knife, Graves said.

When officers located the suspects, the man with the mask rode away, then circled back toward pursuing officers. Officers found a loaded pistol with a large-capacity magazine in the area the suspect rode his bicycle.

Jose Carranza, 25, was arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed firearm and possession of large-capacity magazine.

This story was originally published October 22, 2014 at 4:22 PM with the headline "Modesto police seize guns."