Oakdale Police, acting on information that a 15-year-old boy was in the area of Oak Valley Hospital with a concealed shotgun, located the individual and took him into custody on Friday, April 8.

Oakdale Police Officer Matthew Gardette said that police received an anonymous tip that morning naming the juvenile. Officer Gardette said police were familiar with the boy due to past contacts and that he was an associated gang member in the city.

At 10:24 a.m., Officer Gardette observed the teenager walking on Oak Avenue near West H Street. When he made contact with the subject, Gardette discovered that the juvenile was carrying a loaded shotgun with its barrel cut concealed beneath his clothing.

“He had just been released from juvenile hall on other charges and was already out carrying a gun,” Officer Gardette said. “The shotgun barrel was sawed down to only nine inches long.”

Gardette said the juvenile was arrested on a series of felony charges including having a prior felony conviction and being in possession of a gun and being in possession of a sawed-off shotgun.