Concealed, Unregistered Handgun Found During Banning Traffic Stop

BANNING, CA — A 19-year-old driver stopped by police Wednesday night in Banning was allegedly found with a loaded, unregistered handgun under his vehicle seat.

Vincent Jesse Hernandez of San Bernardino was pulled over just before 8 p.m. in the 800 block of West Ramsey Street by members of the San Gorgonio Special Operations Regional Gang Task Force. The force is staffed by law enforcement officers with the Banning Police Department, Beaumont Police Department, and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

During the traffic stop, Hernandez's vehicle was searched.

"It was discovered Hernandez was operating the vehicle without a driver’s license and was detained. During a search of Hernandez’s vehicle, Gang Task Force Officers located a loaded handgun underneath Hernandez's seat. It was also discovered the handgun was unregistered," according to Sgt. Mike Bennett of the Banning Police Department.

Jail records show Hernandez was booked on suspicion of carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle and possessing an unregistered firearm, both felonies. He was being held at Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in lieu of $10,000 bail and was due to appear in court Friday.