Two Thermal men arrested after police find loaded gun, heroin

Two Thermal men were arrested late Wednesday night after a routine traffic stop led to the discovery a loaded gun, high capacity magazine, and a substance suspected of being black tar heroin.

The incident happened just before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, when two CHP officer pulled over a Cevrolet Silverado on Lingayan Ave just east of Van Buren. The driver of the truck was identified as Steven Cabrera, 24. The passenger gave officers false information about his identity, but was later identified as Edgar Lira, 23.

“During the officer’s investigation,” according to a press release from the CHP, the officers found a “loaded and concealed handgun, suspected black tar heroin and a loaded high capacity magazine.”

The officers concluded that the heroin for not for personal use, but for selling, due to the way it was packaged.

Both suspects were arrested, and it was later learned they were both convicted felons, causing additional charges to be filed.