On March 12, agents from the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team were patrolling in the 500 block of Mission St. near Chrystal Terrace in Santa Cruz, when they stopped a white Honda for having tinted windows.
As the agents were talking to the driver and passenger, they saw in plain view, opened containers of alcoholic beverages in the center console. During a search of the vehicle for additional open containers, agents recovered two loaded non-serialized firearms in backpacks belonging to the driver, Clyde Ortega, 28, of Santa Cruz, and passenger, Mauricio Morales, 22, of Santa Cruz.
Officers say they recovered about 7 grams of methamphetamine and a police scanner.
Both are known Sureno gang participants, according to law enforcement.
Ortega and Morales were taken into custody and charged with weapons and narcotic crimes. They were transported to the county jail. A 28-year-old female passenger was released at the scene.
SCCACT asks that anyone who may have information on this case or any other gang-related case, call (831)768-6515.