VENTURA : 2 Boys Arrested on Weapons Charges

Two Santa Paula boys were arrested on suspicion of carrying loaded guns after Ventura police were called to quell a disturbance involving about 40 gang members in Arroyo Verde Park on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

Park officials called police about 1:45 p.m. after seeing dozens of young men drinking and loitering, police said. A Ventura police desk officer said it appeared that all of the youths were from the same gang and that no fighting had been reported.

When officers from the department’s bike patrol approached the group, they spotted two youths attempting to hide handguns inside their clothing, police said.

A 17-year-old boy and another boy, whose age was not given, were arrested on suspicion of possession of a concealed weapon and possession of a loaded weapon after the firearms were discovered, police said.

The boys, who told police they belonged to a Santa Paula gang, had a loaded .357 handgun and a loaded .38-caliber pistol, officials said.

Investigators also recovered a 12-gauge shotgun from a vehicle belonging to a third youth, but that boy was not arrested, according to Ventura police.