Deputies Arrest Teen After Finding Gun

NEWBURY PARK —  A 17-year-old Newbury Park boy was arrested Thursday afternoon across the street from Conejo Valley High School after police allegedly found a fully loaded pistol and compatible magazine in his possession.

Ventura County sheriff’s deputies, responding to reports of a disturbance at a bus stop across the street from the continuation high school about 2 p.m., detained a number of individuals, including the juvenile.

Deputies said the boy, who is not a student at the school, was carrying a loaded magazine for an automatic handgun. Authorities then searched a nearby field and found a fully loaded handgun that matched; it had apparently been thrown into the field just as school officials and police arrived at the scene, authorities said.

The pistol is a small, inexpensive model capable of being easily concealed on the body, authorities said, adding that the gun may have been stolen.

The juvenile, whose name was not released because of his age, is not a known gang member, but said he associated with gang members, deputies said.

The boy was arrested on suspicion of possessing a loaded handgun and taken to Juvenile Hall. The sheriff’s gang unit is investigating whether he can also be charged under the “Gun Free School Zone Act of 1995.”