A stop for a minor vehicle code violation Wednesday night by Turlock’s Criminal Apprehension and Gang Enforcement team led to the seizure of seven guns and the arrest of one man.

Around 5:30 p.m. the officers pulled over a vehicle belonging to 19-year-old Francisco Soto in the area of N. Quincy Road and Monte Vista Avenue.

During the traffic stop, Soto gave officers permission to search his vehicle and his residence, said Turlock Police spokesperson Officer Mayra Lewis.

During the search of the vehicle, officers located a black, 12-gauge, Mossberg shotgun in the trunk of the vehicle. Officers checked the serial number on the shotgun and found that it had been previously reported stolen to the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, Lewis said.

During the search of Soto’s residence in the 2500 block of Taylor Road, officers located six additional firearms, including a rifle. One of the guns was loaded, Lewis said.

All firearms located during the search of Soto’s residence were confiscated as part of the investigation. 

Soto was arrested and booked for felony possession of a stolen shotgun, Lewis said.