Police Arrest Gilroyans on Suspicion of Weapon Possession

Gilroy residents Andrew Garcia, 24, and Elichaba Ruiz, 34, were arrested after police found a .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol in the white, 2000 GMC Yukon they were driving.

The pair was initially pulled over around Church Street around 10:30 p.m., Thursday, for expired registration tags, but officers discovered items typically used for criminal activity during the course of the incident, GPD Sgt. Chad Gallacinao said.

Garcia was found to be in possession of gloves, a shaved key and a flashlight. Shaved keys can be used to bypass a vehicle’s ignition, and latex gloves, like the ones found in the vehicle, are often used to conceal fingerprints that may be left at crime scenes, Gallacinao said. 

“The possession of the key and latex gloves does suggest, at times, that he may be responsible for illegal activity,” he said.

Garcia was also in possession of the gun, which police determined had been stolen from its registered owner. Police also determined that Garcia has a felony warrant and a no-bail probation warrant, which he attempted to conceal through impersonation, and believe he passed the gun to Ruiz before officers stopped the vehicle.

“It’s believed that Garcia had passed the handgun to Ruiz since he was prohibited from possessing the firearm because of his prior felony conviction,” Gallacinao said.

Ruiz and Garcia were booked into Santa Clara County Jail, and the incident is currently being investigated, Gallacinao said.