Anthony Yates
Authorities arrested a man from Fremont over the weekend near the Cruise Night event in San Mateo. He reportedly fled from the cops after a traffic stop, and officers found a “ghost gun” in his vehicle.
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What happened: According to a news release by the San Mateo Police Department, Cruise Night was held in the city of San Mateo on Saturday. It’s reportedly a car enthusiast event, and authorities say that it’s “mostly innocuous,” causing some traffic delays.
- Officers reportedly observed a Buick make an illegal U-turn in front of them just before 8 PM. The maneuver forced several road users to slam on their brakes.
- Law enforcement attempted to make a traffic stop, but the Buick driver fled toward incoming traffic through a red light. The news release explains that officers quickly abandoned the pursuit due to the high traffic and safety risk.
- Another officer on a motorcycle at the event reportedly heard the commotion but was unaware of the speeding driver. He saw the Buick run a red light and attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver allegedly “sideswiped” another car, and the officer gave chase.
Officers Located A “Ghost Gun” Inside The Car
Stuck in traffic: The news release explains that the driver “brake checked” the officer on the motorcycle, forcing him to evade. The Buick eventually stopped when it reached traffic, and officers closed in.
- Authorities reveal that they found a driver and two passengers inside the vehicle. They also found a ghost gun, ammunition, and two magazines. Per the ATF, ghost guns get their name because they can be difficult to track. They may also be 3D printed and don’t always have a serial number.
- Officers identified 34-year-old Ronald Wetzel as the driver. He was reportedly intoxicated with a .17BAC, which is more than double the legal limit. Authorities booked him into the San Mateo County jail and towed the vehicle from the scene. The two passengers were released without charge.
- Wetzel reportedly had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and faces multiple charges, including Assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon, Possess a firearm without identification markings, and DUI.
