Salinas man dressed in body armor busted with drugs & gun

An expired vehicle registration led to the arrest of a man in possession of guns and drugs in Watsonville.

It all started around 9:20 p.m. Wednesday, the Santa Cruz Anti-Crime Team, Gang Task Force ran the plates on a green Jaguar near the Metro Bus station on Rodriguez Street and found the car’s registration hadn’t been paid in more than six years.

The passenger, who at first provided officers with a false name was identified as 37-year-old Jonathan Alvarez of Salinas.

While officers prepared to tow the car they asked Alvarez if he had any guns on him.

“He (Alvarez) replied, he had a piece of metal in his waistband,” said Commander George Rivera.

Police safely recovered a 7.62 cal. Mauser semi-auto firearm. Alvarez was also found wearing body armor and had 18.5 grams of heroin and 15.5 grams of methamphetamine in his pockets.

Alvarez was arrested and booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail.

The driver was issued a citation for the expired registration and released at the scene.