Three men were arrested during a traffic enforcement stop for allegedly carrying a loaded firearm that was not registered to any of them, according to authorities.
The arrest happened on Friday at around 11:33 p.m. near the intersection of Airport Boulevard and Desert Cactus Road in Thermal, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
During the traffic enforcement stop, Coachella Community Action Team deputies noticed a short-barreled rifle in plain view on the back seat of the vehicle.
The occupants of the vehicle were ordered out of it and were arrested without further incident for allegedly possessing a California non-compliant firearm, possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle and not the registered owner, possessing a short-barreled rifle and possessing a high-capacity magazine.
The three suspects were identified as Victor Manuel Astorga Valdez, 20, of Indio, and two 18-year-old men from Coachella: Andrew Barajas and Angel Adan Flores.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Deputy Nevins or Deputy Piscatella of the Thermal Station at 760-863-8990