Sergio Soto, a Santa Barbara resident with a lengthy criminal history, was arrested and booked into County Jail on May 2 for felony possession of an AK-47 firearm and three counts of felony possession of stolen property, according to SBPD spokesperson Sgt. Riley Harwood.

Soto, 30, a convicted felon and past associate of an Oxnard street gang, was seen driving in the 300 block of West Pueblo Street by a Santa Barbara police officer standing nearby. Recognizing that there was a warrant out for Soto’s arrest, the officer got in his car and followed him.

Sergio Ivan Soto

Soto was pulled over on 2400 Fletcher Avenue and initially gave the officer a fake name. He was then arrested for his warrant, providing false information, and displaying fraudulent registration tabs, said Harwood.

Upon his arrest, Soto’s vehicle was searched, turning up methamphetamine and stolen property. The stolen items included nine personal and business checks, as well as mailing items containing social security paperwork, billing information, and bank statements.

In Soto’s trunk officers found an unregistered semi-automatic AK-47 rifle with a 30-round magazine. The magazine was loaded with 22 rounds of 7.62×39 mm ammunition, Harwood said.

Soto was booked into the County Jail with bail set at $250,000.

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