Ventura police arrest man on probation for having a loaded gun and drug paraphernalia

VENTURA, Calif. - The Ventura Police Department responded to a call at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday of a suspicious man loitering near a parked vehicle on the 1200 block of Conway Avenue.

Police made contact with the man and identified him as 25-year-old Erik Lopez who was on probation.

Officers decided to search Lopez' car and found a loaded handgun hidden near the driver’s seat, ammunition, body armor and property that belonged to a state law enforcement agency and was possibly stolen. Officers also said they found a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.

Lopez was then arrested for multiple charges including carrying a loaded firearm, prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition, felon in possession of body armor, possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia.

A review of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows Lopez has prior convictions for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, bodily injury to a spouse or cohabitant, false imprisonment, possession of a controlled substance and for disobeying a court order.