Gun, burglary tools and drugs found after Paso Robles car chase, police say

Paso Robles police arrested two people early Saturday morning after a brief car and foot chase, according to a department news release.

Just after midnight, police received a report of a man setting off fireworks in the alley near 1900 Park St. in Paso Robles, the department said. The first officer at the scene reportedly saw a black Nissan driving south in the alleyway, which sped off when it noticed the police car.

The officer attempted to make a traffic stop but the vehicle continued at a high rate of speed, police said. Once a second unit arrived, the vehicle slowly stopped in the 2200 block of Park Street.

The passenger, Rudolfo Cerda III, fled the vehicle, while the driver, Nicole Gatto, remained in the driver’s seat, police said.

Cerda, 29, was detained a few blocks from the scene.

Once Cerda was in custody, Paso Robles police said, he was identified a known gang member and a parolee at large.

Police said officers found approximately five grams of what was suspected to be fentanyl and several live .40 caliber rounds in Cerda’s possession.

Upon their investigation, police allegedly learned that Gatto had a misdemeanor warrant for her arrest and was also in possession of suspected illegal narcotics. Police did not

Inside the vehicle, police said, officers found narcotics, two sets of bolt cutters, a pair of gloves and a black ski mask. A loaded .40 caliber Glock handgun with an illegal 30-round high capacity magazine was also found after officers searched the path Cerda ran, police said.

Cerda and Gatto were booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail on multiple charges. As of 3 p.m. Sunday, Cerda was still in custody, while Gatto was not, jail records show.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Paso Robles Police Department at 805-237-6464.

This story was originally published January 12, 2020 at 4:21 PM.