The Lathrop Police Department reported last week that a juvenile driver was arrested on felony charges including possession of a loaded firearm with high-capacity magazines.

The incident took place during a traffic for a vehicle code violation at about 3:03 p.m. Thursday.

“After a brief interaction, the juvenile driver fled the scene in the vehicle. Despite crashing into a gate at the dead end of Harlan Road,” said local police, who noted that the driver continued traveling recklessly, prompting them to discontinue the pursuit out of concern for public safety.

It was the responding officers who quickly coordinated an area search, locating the driver and a juvenile passenger in a nearby field – both were safely taken into custody.

Police then discovered the loaded firearm with the high-capacity magazine discarded along the pursuit route. Couple that with additional magazines and ammunition recovered inside the vehicle.

The driver was booked into San Joaquin County Juvenile Hall on multiple felony charges while the passenger was transported to the hospital as a precaution, police added.