DA awards Campbell man for calling police, leading to arrest of heavily armed suspect; releases new psa asking for public’s help in enforcing red flag gun law
For release on September 15, 2021
CONTACT:
Sean Webby
Public Communications Officer
(408) 792-2997
DA awards Campbell man for calling police, leading to arrest of heavily armed suspect;
releases new psa asking for public’s help in enforcing red flag gun law
The call by Farukh Mamedov led to the arrest of Wesley Martines, who was stopped by officers with a small illegal arsenal in his truck that included a bullet proof vest, the makings of a pipe bomb, individual bullets with “cop killer” inscribed on them, and a racist manifesto.
Campbell Police Chief Gary Berg also awarded three responding officers for their courage and effectiveness in stopping and searching the potentially dangerous suspect that night.
DA Rosen also released a new Public Service Announcement, highlighting the need for the public to help law enforcement use the state’s “Red Flag” law to take weapons out of the hands of dangerous people before they do harm to themselves or others. The PSA features family members of some of those killed in gun violence, including the VTA workplace mass shooting earlier this year.
DA Rosen said: “You don’t have to be a cop, a firefighter, or a superhero to save innocent lives. You just need to call 911 when you see someone armed and dangerous.”
Just after midnight on July 9, 2021, Mr. Mamedov, a local business owner, called Campbell Police to say that a man he could see on his security camera was prowling in the area of East Sunny Oaks Avenue and looking into cars and a storage shed. Police responded quickly and stopped a truck driven by the suspect. Inside they found the weapons, including two AR-style rifles, which are illegal in California. They also found a Glock 9 mm handgun, and ammunition that was personally inscribed with such sayings “To a widow from the Grim Reaper,” and “A Good Start.” They also found body armor, heroin, methamphetamine, and a pipe bomb filled with pellets but no explosive material inside. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad assisted in making sure the explosive device was inactive.
A journal held the racist and Anti-Semitic writings, along with a plan to go to sporting goods store, dress up as an employee and tie everybody up.
With assistance from the DA’s Office, Campbell Police obtained high bail, search warrants and served a gun violence restraining order (GVRO) on the suspect to seize his weapons. Santa Clara County law enforcement uses the most GVROs in Northern California.
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