UPDATE (Jan. 22 -- 3:03 p.m.) Mario Santacruz pleaded no contest on Jan. 22 and five other charges were dropped.
He is scheduled to be back in court for sentencing on April 22.
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The Bakersfield Police Department arrested Mario Santacruz following a traffic stop in east Bakersfield on Tuesday.
Officials said officers attempted to stop a stolen vehicle in the 1500 block of Alameda Avenue near Haley St. and Bernard St.
The driver failed to stop for officers and led them on a short, slow-speed pursuit.
During the pursuit, a loaded, stolen firearm was discarded by the driver and located by responding officers.
After discarding the firearm, police said the driver yielded and was taken into custody.
The driver, Santacruz, was arrested for firearm possession, possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of narcotics.
Santa Cruz was in a Kern County courtroom on December 28th and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is expected back in court on January 10, 2018.
Bakersfield Police are asking anyone with information about this case to call them at 327-7111.
