Teenage gang member arrested in Atwater, gun seized, police say

An armed teenage gang member was arrested Friday in Atwater after running from police, officers said.

The 14-year-old male was booked at the Iris Garrett Juvenile Justice Correctional Complex on suspicion of numerous gang and weapons allegations, Atwater police Lt. Samuel Joseph said.

Officers spotted the juvenile around 3 p.m. in the area of Winton Way and Bellevue Road. The teenager ran when he saw the officers. Police chased him through an apartment complex in the 1800 block of Carter Way, Joseph said.

Authorities surrounded the area and searched the neighborhood for several minutes before capturing the teenager. Officers found a loaded .380-caliber handgun during the search, police said.

Joseph said the teenager admitted his involvement in a well-known Atwater street gang and told police he ran because he didn’t want to be caught with a loaded firearm.

This story was originally published February 6, 2015 at 7:34 PM with the headline "Teenage gang member arrested in Atwater, gun seized, police say."