Berkeley Police Department found guns during traffic stops three times last week, a BPD Nixle alert on cases of community interest reported Tuesday afternoon.
The first reported incident occurred last Wednesday about 10 p.m. when officers stopped a speeding vehicle driving down Seventh Street near Parker Street, the alert said. In the process of searching the vehicle, they found a loaded handgun under the driver’s seat and arrested the driver — Jeffrey Aadil Sneed, a 34-year-old man from Oakland — on suspicion of possession of a loaded concealed weapon, among other charges.
On Saturday, BPD made two further arrests, one after a traffic stop at 3 a.m. and another about 7:38 p.m. According to the alert, the first arrest was made after officers stopped a car swerving between lanes on Sacramento Street and found a loaded gun under the driver’s seat. They arrested 39-year-old Jerald Simpkins Jr. from Berkeley on charges of driving under the influence and carrying a loaded handgun.
On Saturday evening, officers saw a car driving with expired registration on San Pablo Avenue. While searching the vehicle and driver, the officers found a gun in her waistband as well as marijuana and methamphetamines in the car. Fifty-three-year-old Budell Monday Murray has been arrested on suspicion of possessing controlled substances, carrying a loaded concealed firearm and having false registration, the alert said.
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Sophia Brown-Heidenreich is the city news editor. Contact her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter at @sophiabrownh.