October 7, 2026 – Monterey County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on October 4, 2026, at approximately 5:15 p.m., a Monterey County Sheriff’s Office deputy conducted a traffic stop on Harkins Road, just west of Abbott Street, in unincorporated Monterey County.

The driver was identified as 33-year-old Gerardo Rubio of Sacramento. A six-year-old child was seated in the front passenger seat of the vehicle.

A Salinas Police Department narcotics and firearms detection K-9 was called to the scene and alerted deputies to the possible presence of contraband in the vehicle. During a subsequent search, deputies located a loaded black Ruger handgun concealed in a sweater inside a shopping bag in the bed of the pickup truck. The firearm had no serial number, and its magazine contained 10 live .45-caliber rounds.

Sheriff Tina Nieto stated, “This is another example of how collaboration between law enforcement agencies makes our communities safer. We appreciate the assistance of the Salinas Police Department and their K-9 Rex. By working together and sharing resources, we can continue our efforts to get illegal guns off our streets and help keep our communities safe.”

Rubio was arrested and booked into Monterey County Jail. The case was forwarded to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office with the following recommended charges:

PC 25850(a), Carrying a loaded firearm

PC 25400(a)(1), Carrying a concealed firearm

PC 23920, Possession of a firearm without a serial number

PC 273a(a), Child endangerment

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office thanks the Salinas Police Department for its assistance during this investigation.

Source & photos: Monterey County Sheriff’s Office