Taxi driver arrested for possession of loaded firearm and narcotics

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a taxi cab driver early Wednesday morning whom they say is a convicted felon with multiple prior arrests.

The Sheriff’s Office says a deputy stopped a taxi cab in the area of Tanglewood Drive and Driftwood Drive for a traffic violation at about 1 a.m. Deputies searched the taxi cab and found a loaded 9mm gun next to the driver seat.

The taxi driver, 42-year-old Santa Maria resident Juan Francisco Roman, was taken into custody without incident.

The Sheriff’s Office says deputies also discovered a useable quantity of methamphetamine and heroin.

Roman was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail for a variety of felony charges, and is being held on $50,000 bail.