Information provided by Hollister Police Department. Lea este artÃculo en español aquÃ.
Hollister police officers responded to a call of a man with a gun, pointing it at people and waving the gun toward traffic. Officers arrived and were able to arrest the man without any further incident. Â
On December 23, 2024, at about 2 pm, officers were dispatched to the 100 Block of Sally Street regarding a male who was sitting in front of a home on that block and had allegedly brandished a handgun at a person passing by. The police department received further information that the man was also seen pointing a small black handgun at people as they drove by the home. Reports also included the man threatening people as he pointed the gun at them. Â
The male was described as a Hispanic male, 19-20 years old, wearing a red hat and burgundy shirt. Officer Morgan responded to the area and deployed the department arial drone. This provided the opportunity to observe the suspect from a safe distance and possibly determine if he was armed.
While the drone was being deployed, the Hollister Police Department requested assistance from the San Benito Sheriff’s Office to help create a perimeter around the area. Hollister detectives also responded from the police department to assist with the perimeter and to create an arrest team if needed. Â
Officer Morgan was able to observe the male, later identified as Angel Rodriguez-Pereda (23), as he appeared to be agitated, waving his arms around and appeared to be speaking to himself. He observed as the man walked from the front porch to the backyard on the property. The male was seen holding a small black object in his hand. Morgan kept the drone a sufficient distance away as to not alert the man of the surveillance and although the object was consistent with a possible firearm it could not be confirmed. Â
As team devised a plan to tactically contact the man, the drone was able to observe as the man was leaving the residence on foot and was walking north on Sally Street.
The team deployed their patrol rifles, less lethal launcher (beanbag), Pepper ball Launcher and ballistic shields as they made contact with Rodriguez-Pereda. He was given commands to get to the ground and with his arms out to his sides. However, he reached several times toward his waistband. He subsequently complied and the team detained Rodriguez-Pereda. A search of the waistband area where he had been reaching revealed he was in possession of a Smith & Wesson revolver. He was taken into custody without further incident and later positively identified as the suspect with the gun.
Rodriquez-Pereda was transported to the San Benito County Jail and booked on several charges including brandishing a firearm, making criminal threats and carrying a loaded firearm in public.