Two men were arrested and a cache of weapons was seized by Stanislaus County Sheriff’s deputies in Keyes. The arrest occurred after one suspect approached a deputy with a handgun. The homeowner and another suspect were charged with various firearm-related offenses. Sabra Stafford reported
Two Men Arrested and Weapons Seized in Keyes Residence
In an effort to combat the recent surge in violent crime in the area, Stanislaus County Sheriff’s deputies made a significant arrest on Monday night. Responding to a call, Deputy Ruezga conducted an extra patrol in the 5400 block of Rhode Road in Keyes, where he noticed a suspicious vehicle registered out of the area parked in front of a residence. The vehicle had two occupants, a man and a woman, who claimed to be in town for the purpose of purchasing a transmission.
As Deputy Ruezga engaged in conversation with the vehicle occupants, a man identified as Corey En, a 26-year-old resident of Modesto, emerged from the Keyes home. To the astonishment of the deputy, En was visibly armed with a handgun and began approaching the officer. Acting swiftly, the deputy apprehended En and promptly placed him in handcuffs for everyone’s safety.
Following this alarming incident, a search warrant was obtained for the Keyes residence. During the execution of the search, deputies made a startling discovery. The premises contained not only firearm parts, but also controlled substance bottles, a shotgun, two rifles, and three fully assembled pistols. Furthermore, a variety of gun manufacturing equipment and drug paraphernalia were found, indicating a potential illicit operation taking place within the residence.
The homeowner, identified as Johnny Espinoza, a 49-year-old Keyes resident, was taken into custody on several charges. These included possession of an assault weapon, transport, import, and manufacturing of assault weapons, as well as knowledge of change or alteration of a firearm. Meanwhile, Corey En faced charges of having a loaded firearm in public, possession or transportation of a machine gun, and knowledge of change or alteration of a firearm.
The arrest of these individuals and the seizure of a cache of weapons undoubtedly represents a significant blow to criminal activities in the area. Law enforcement officials are hopeful that this operation will help restore peace and security to the community, while sending a clear message that violent crime will not be tolerated.
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