Sacramento, California – A routine traffic stop in South Sacramento ended with an arrest after deputies say they found a loaded handgun inside a vehicle driven by a man legally barred from having weapons.
According to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, Central Division Patrol Deputies made the stop Tuesday near Power Inn Road and Elder Creek Road. What began as a standard enforcement action quickly grew more serious once deputies identified the driver as 36-year-old Dante Powell.
Authorities said Powell is a convicted felon, which means he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. That restriction became central to the case as deputies moved forward with their investigation at the scene.
During a search of the vehicle, deputies found a loaded, unregistered Taurus semi-automatic handgun inside a satchel resting on the passenger-side floorboard. Investigators also said the weapon was equipped with an illegal 15-round high-capacity magazine, adding to the severity of the arrest.
The discovery turned the roadside stop into a weapons case, with deputies taking Powell into custody soon afterward. He was later booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail, where the case now moves into the next stage of the criminal justice process.
The arrest highlights how quickly a routine patrol encounter can uncover more serious alleged violations. In this case, deputies say a stop near one of South Sacramento’s busy corridors led to the recovery of a loaded firearm and the arrest of a man not allowed to possess it under the law.
No additional details about possible charges or future court proceedings were included in the information released.