Two men, teen arrested on suspicion of weapons, gang charges

Two men and a teenager who appeared to be following someone in rival gang colors in Santa Rosa’s Moorland Avenue neighborhood were arrested Wednesday after a short, high-speed pursuit on suspicion of weapons and gang charges, Sonoma County sheriff’s officials said.

Deputies and probation officers in the area recognized the trio at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday as suspected members of a local sureño gang in a Honda driving slowly on Barbara Drive off Moorland Avenue, Sgt. Cecile Focha said. They were driving parallel to a male walking on the sidewalk wearing a red hat, a color rival to the blue affiliated with sureño groups. The man in the red hat ran when he saw the Honda.

A deputy stopped the Honda, but then the car sped off, tires squealing, and sped through several stop signs at an estimated 60 mph, Focha said. Calling for backup, the deputies and officers followed the Honda, which eventually stopped about 1.5 miles away on Todd Road.

Authorities shut down the road while deputies handcuffed and detained the Honda’s occupants.

They found a loaded handgun on the center console, cocked and loaded with a live round in the chamber, Focha said. A switchblade was in the driver’s side door handle, she said.

Driver Erick Canseco Lopez, 19, of Petaluma, who Focha said was carrying another switchblade, and his passengers Martin Rodriguez, 22, of Santa Rosa and a 17-year-old male on probation, were arrested on suspicion of possession of a loaded gun in a vehicle, active participation in a criminal street gang and gang enhancements.

Canseco Lopez was additionally arrested on suspicion of possession of a switchblade and recklessly evading arrest in a vehicle, Focha said. He and Rodriguez also had pending warrants for their arrest.

They were booked into the Sonoma County Jail and the teen was taken to the Los Guilicos Juvenile Justice Center.

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.