Merced police say they arrested a man in possession of a firearm after a traffic stop.

Merced police officer Barroso conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Rose Avenue and Merced Avenue on Thursday night at around 10:50 on a vehicle with tinted windows police said in a press release.

The driver was identified as 21-year-old Jose Barrios Vega. During the traffic stop Vega told Officer Barroso he had a small amount of marijuana in the vehicle in addition to a firearm.

Barrios was detained and the vehicle was searched. Officer Barroso located a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun in the glove box.

Barrios did not possess a CCW and the serial number was scratched off the firearm, police said.

Barrios was arrested and released on a citation for unlawful firearm possession charges. The firearm was seized as evidence.

The Merced Police Department is asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Officer Barroso at 209-385-6905 or by email at barrosom@cityofmerced.org.