Riverside traffic stop leads to illegal firearms sales charges
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Authorities say a man suspected of being involved in the illegal sales of firearms was arrested after officials discovered he was in possession of a loaded handgun during a traffic stop yesterday morning, Wednesday, May 19. During a subsequent search of the man’s residence, officers found a short barrel AR-15 rifle, numerous high capacity magazines, and thousands of rounds of various calibers of ammunition.
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While patrolling the Magnolia Avenue corridor “in their continued efforts to reduce gun violence”, at around 3 a.m. officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle in the 10900 block of Magnolia Avenue near Park Sierra Drive, Riverside PD officials later reported in a social media release.
When they contacted the driver, since identified as Steven Danny Chavez, 24, of Riverside, he admitted to being in possession of a loaded firearm concealed in his waistband.
During a subsequent search of Chavez’s apartment, officers located and seized a short barrel AR-15 rifle, numerous high capacity magazines, and thousands of rounds of various calibers of ammunition, according to RPD.
“Through their investigation, the officers located evidence related to illegal gun sales and possession of illegal weapons,” RPD explained.
Based on their investigation, officers arrested Chavez and he was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on suspicion of carrying a loaded and concealed firearm, sales and transportation of a firearm without a license, possession of an assault weapon, and possession of large capacity magazines.
Online jail records indicate Chavez was released with a citation within hours of being booked into jail. He is scheduled to be arraigned at the Riverside Hall Of Justice on Sept. 21.
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Trevor Montgomery, 49, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).
Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.