A 39-year-old man who authorities said is an active gang member on parole was arrested in Indio Wednesday on drug and gun charges.
Officers with the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force detained Rafael Gerardo Jr. of Indio during a traffic stop at 10:40 a.m. in the area of Jackson Street and Kenner Avenue, discovered that he was on parole and conduct a parole compliance search of Gerardo and his vehicle, said Sgt. Paul Heredia of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
During the search, officers located a non-serialized 9mm semi-automatic handgun, commonly referred to as a ”ghost gun” and ammunition, Heredia said. They also found approximately four ounces of suspected methamphetamine and 97 Fentanyl pills.
Gerardo will be charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of a firearm with narcotics, being a gang member in possession of a firearm, being in possession of non-serialized firearm and being in violation of parole. He was booked at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio.
Anyone with information about this crime was asked to call Deputy Chavez at 760-836-1600.