Crime & Safety

Gang Task Force Arrests Felon with Gun in his Car

Dax Lee Lachica, stopped for a traffic violation, had an unregistered Glock in his car.

When the Santa Cruz Gang Task Force stopped a car for traffic violations at 6:20 p.m. Tuesday in Santa Cruz officers smelled marijuana and found an unregistered loaded Glock pistol in the car.

They arrested Dax Lee Lachica, 19,  for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail.

Lachica was driving a 1991 silver Oldsmobile Cutlass at Myrtle and Laurel streets when he was stopped.

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The county's new Gang Task Force launched Sept. 1 to be the enforcement arm of programs geared at reducing gang violence in Santa Cruz County and deterring kids from joining gangs.

Although the task force has largely been focused on South County—Watsonville has been plagued with gang violence this summer—the team works countywide. All police agencies in Santa Cruz County contribute personnel and funding to the new task force.

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