Traffic stop turns into weapon, drug bust

A traffic stop turned into an arrest leading to the seizure of an unregistered gun and jars of marijuana.

Watsonville Police say a sergeant pulled over 30-year-old Pedro Rocha Saturday evening for having expired tags. Police say the sergeant could smell marijuana from inside the car.

After searching the car, police say the sergeant found a semi-automatic pistol that Rocha was not supposed to have because of a prior conviction.

Police say the jars of marijuana were also found in the car along with a digital scale.

Watsonville Police took Rocha to the Santa Cruz County Jail where he now faces several charges including possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person and possesion of marijuana for sales.