Police seize sub-machine gun from teen

A 17-year-old male accused of carrying a concealed and loaded gun has been arrested.

The incident happened at 4:42 p.m. Saturday in the 900 block of West Henderson Avenue.

The Porterville Police Department reports that officers responded to a report of a suspicious male believed to be armed with a gun.

Officers began searching for the person, who was last seen walking north approaching Mulberry Avenue. There, an officer contacted a 17-year-old male who matched the description of the initial report. When the officers contacted the juvenile, he was immediately uncooperative, police said.

The PPD reports that an officer tried to gain the teen’s compliance by explaining why police contacted him. He was helpful for a moment, while the officer tried to check him for weapons, police said.

During the search, the officer felt what he believed to be a gun in the teen’s waistband. At that time, the 17-year-old immediately became uncooperative as the officer tried to handcuff him, police said.

After a brief struggle, the teen was detained.

Police later determined the concealed object was a loaded Tek 9 sub-machine gun.

Police said that during the arrest, the juvenile made threats of violence against the officer and his family.

The teen was transported to the police department where he was booked on suspicion of possession of a concealed firearm, possession of a loaded firearm in public, possession of an assault weapon, minor in possession of live ammunition, possession of a high capacity firearm magazine, threats of violence to a police officer and participation in a criminal street gang.

He was later booked at the Tulare County Juvenile Detention Facility.