On [Sunday, August 3] at approximately 6:17 p.m., officers from the Santa Maria Police Department Gang Suppression Team conducted a traffic enforcement stop near BenWiley and El Camino after observing a driver using a cell phone while operating a vehicle.
Upon contacting the driver, identified as 24-year-old Nathan Hernandez, a resident of Santa Maria, officers learned he was using his phone while driving and did not have a valid driver’s license. The front passenger was identified as 21-year-old Julio C. Vargas-Chavez, also a resident of Santa Maria.
During the stop, officers observed an open container of alcohol in the vehicle, along with a granular substance on the floor that appeared to be narcotics. Both occupants were removed from the vehicle, and a subsequent search revealed approximately 6.25 grams of suspected narcotics. Officers also located a loaded, unserialized polymer 9mm handgun, over $900 in cash, and other indicia of narcotics sales.
Hernandez and Vargas-Chavez were arrested on multiple drug and weapons charges and were later booked into county jail.
“The Santa Maria Police Department remains committed to keeping our community safe by getting illegal weapons and dangerous drugs off our streets.”
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Nice work LE. What a litany of charges on these fools. I hope they stew in jail long enough to realize they have to change their ways.