Shots fired near home

On Sunday at approximately 9:30 p.m., deputies from the Wasco substation responded to shots fired at the 1200 block of 8th Place.

During the investigation, deputies learned that Espiridon Beltran, 40, had possibly fired several shots from a firearm in front of a residence. Additional investigation revealed Beltran was a restrained person in a criminal protective order protecting the victim who lived in a nearby residence, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies located Beltran in the area and detained him without incident. He was in possession of a loaded firearm determined to be stolen. Beltran was arrested and booked into the Central Receiving Facility for carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, violation of a restraining order and prohibited person in possession of ammunition.

“We don’t know that the suspect that was arrested fired his gun,” Sergeant Peter Martinez said. “We just know that the person arrested had an order from the court not to be near someone else and was in possession of a gun he could not legally possess.”

Prohibited by the court protection order, the suspect was found in possession of a firearm. Because the gun was loaded with additional ammunition he is being considered a “prohibited person in possession of ammunition.”

“We did not charge the suspect arrested for the unlawful discharge of a firearm,” he said. “If we had probable cause for him firing the gun, we would have charged him with that, too.”

--Toni DeRosa contributed to this story.