Source: Santa Maria Police Department
On February 12, 2021 at about 1:30PM, Santa Maria Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team (SET) conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle. The vehicle was occupied by three subjects. During the course of the traffic stop, officers located two firearms.
Two subjects who were identified as Isreal De La Cruz Hernandez, 19 years of age and Nelson Mathew Fontana, 21 years of age, were arrested for various charges and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail. Bail for both was set at $1,000,000.
The charges included Possession of a Loaded Concealed Firearm, Possession of a Concealed Firearm by a Gang Member, Possession of a Firearm with Altered Serial Number and a Criminal Street Gang Enhancement.
High capacity magazines and guns with no serial numbers; when will criminals follow our gun laws?
I don’t think it’s fair to compare firearm ownership with murder and rape. There is a big difference between laws against hurting people and laws that infringe on constitutionally recognized human rights. Having said that, I’m glad these bad guys were arrested and I appreciate the hard work and dedication of our local law enforcement professionals who took them off our streets.