Gang officers arrest two men near Roseland Elementary

Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office gang officers arrested two 18-year-old Santa Rosa men, one of whom they said was found with a loaded handgun in his waistband.

Two deputies with the Multi Agency Gang Enforcement Unit were patrolling late Saturday night near Sunset Avenue and McMinn Avenue near Roseland Elementary School in Santa Rosa when they spotted someone who appeared to be trying to hide behind a fence and a row of trees, according to a press release the department issued Monday.

“Recently there has been an excessive amount of gang graffiti in the area and the deputies stopped to investigate,” the press release said.

As the deputies stopped their car, two people ran westbound on Sunset Avenue and were caught after a brief foot pursuit.

They were identified as Jose De Los Santos and Ivan Martinez.

De Los Santos reportedly had a loaded 9mm handgun in his waistband. He was booked into Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of possession of a concealed firearm, carrying a loaded firearm in public while a gang member, participation in a street gang and obstructing arrest.

You can reach Lori A. Carter at 762-7297 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @loriacarter.