Woodburn K9 Finds Loaded Gun, Drugs After Search
Gonzalez-Espinoza was lodged on charges of menacing, unlawful pointing of a firearm, distribution of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school and unlawful possession of a firearm
(WOODBURN, Ore. ) — Woodburn police arrested Pedro Gonzalez-Espinoza, 19, of Woodburn, after responding to a fight in the 300 block of Baylor Street in Woodburn on Oct. 4 at 5:19 p.m. Witnesses reported a firearm had been seen pointed at people.
As officers responded the armed suspect fled in a white Honda sedan. Witnesses were able to give police the license plate of the vehicle.
About 15 minutes later Woodburn police officers found the suspect's vehicle in a nearby apartment complex parking lot, occupied by Gonzalez-Espinoza. He was detained without incident.
Woodburn police officer Adam Stewart and his K-9 partner, Rudy, were used to assist in clearing the suspect's vehicle. No other persons or weapons/firearms were located in the vehicle. The officers then began an article search due to the fact the suspect had time to be able to hide or discard a weapon prior to the police locating him. They located a backpack that had been shoved underneath hedges approximately 75 feet away from the parked vehicle.
After learning officers had located the backpack, Gonzalez-Espinoza admitted the backpack was his and told officers there was a handgun inside. A loaded 9 mm handgun, as well as a drug scale, drug packaging material and marijuana packaged for sale were located in the backpack.
Police likely prevented a potentially tragic situation if the backpack wasn't located, thanks to the use of the K-9 tracking dog, Rudy.
Gonzalez-Espinoza was lodged on charges of menacing, unlawful pointing of a firearm, distribution of a controlled substance (marijuana) within 1,000 feet of a school and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Source: Woodburn Police
