Two arrested on weapon charge after traffic stop

Salinas police reported Friday the arrest of a driver and passenger who threw a loaded handgun out of their car while fleeing from officers.

According to the Salinas Police Department, officers with the city’s Violence Suppression Unit and Salinas Parole saw the driver commit a vehicle code violation. When the driver saw police, he sped away.

Officers say while driver Juan Miranda, 31, sped off, passenger Kasandra Lopez, 19, tossed out a loaded .22 caliber firearm onto the street. Lopez is pictured below.

Another female passenger in the vehicle was found with a methamphetamine smoking pipe in her possession.

Miranda and Lopez were charged with the firearm and booked into Monterey County Jail.