In 60 minutes: Deputies seize loaded guns, make five arrests in Santa Cruz County

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office had a successful weekend arresting five people in two different cases within an hour.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, on Saturday a deputy was patrolling the area of Lee Road in Watsonville when he came across Edgar Rivera in the driver seat of a SUV. The deputy spotted methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in the car. During a search of the car the sheriff’s office also found a loaded handgun under the drivers seat.

Rivera was arrested for various weapon and narcotic charges. He was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail.

About an hour later, a deputy came across four juveniles in a car on South Rodeo Gulch in Soquel. During a search of the vehicle the deputy found a loaded unregistered gun under the rear seat. Several bottles of alcohol that had been reported stolen from Safeway were also found in the car. The four juveniles were booked into Juvenile Hall on weapon and stolen property charges.